Chipping Sparrow on Redbud Pencil Sketch p18
Sparrows are underrated. To most people they are just LBBs–little brown birds. Sure, they aren’t the flashiest of birds, but they have a subtle beauty about them. Some are downright beautiful if you only take the time to look carefully … Continued
Male Eastern Bluebird on Hawthorn Pencil Sketch p17
This male Eastern Bluebird was aggressively defending his nest from his own reflection in our shed’s window. I snuck inside with the tripod and 400mm lens to get some shots. He came in incredibly close. After bagging a ton of … Continued
Female Eastern Bluebird Pencil Sketch p16
We have been lucky enough to have Eastern bluebirds nest in our yard multiple times. As the field nearby is slowly being taken over by trees, our property has become less attractive to the bluebirds. This year they built a … Continued
Ruby Meadowhawk Dragonfly Pencil Sketch p14
I’m a big fan of dragonflies. To draw them, I take tons of photos for reference. I also have some dead ones that I use for reference on tiny details like wing venation. I typically use a 200-400mm lens with … Continued
White-breasted Nuthatch Pencil Sketch p13
White-breasted nuthatches are entertaining, cute and energetic birds. Here in Michigan they visit suet and bird feeders year round. When I lived in Cleveland years ago my wife and I used to go birding in a park where they were tame … Continued
Candy-striped Leafhopper Pencil Sketch p11
Easily overlooked, the tiny candy-striped leafhopper is a feast for the eyes of a careful observer. Unfortunately, they also feast on garden plants and are a pest species.
Red-eyed Vireo Pencil Sketch p9
This Red-eyed Vireo was in the crabapple right outside our kitchen window last year. Typically, I think of RE Vireos as almost always being up higher in trees, but this one was right at eye level. Fortunately the camera was … Continued
Broad-headed Assassin Bug Nymph Pencil Sketch p8
If you ever have been bitten by an assassin bug, you know that it’s something you won’t soon forget. I got tagged by a small one last year and was impressed. Having learned my lesson with smaller ones, I was … Continued
