Baltimore Oriole Pencil Sketch 8/11
We have had a lot of orioles coming to our three jelly feeders this summer. There is one male that has the brightest orange I’ve ever seen on an oriole. He is more of a fiery chrome orange rather than … Continued
Scarlet Tanager Pencil Sketch
For 9.5 and 6.5 years old our kids are pretty good birders. While doing homeschooling at the kitchen table one day, my daughter Kelly excitedly yelled out “scarlet tanager.” Despite my initial skepticism, she was right! Just outside our kitchen … Continued
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pencil Sketch 2
In the spring and summer we have an almost continual flow of these attractive birds at the feeder. We often hear them cracking away at the white-striped sunflower seeds that we put out for them. For a few reasons they remind … Continued
Fox Sparrow Pencil Sketch
Fox sparrows are striking birds. We often have them visit our yard in the spring. Typically they stay in the underbrush kicking up leaves to find food. This cooperative bird came right up close to have a peek under the … Continued
Gorilla Skeleton Pencil Sketch
They have a great mount of a gorilla skeleton at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Even though I’ve drawn countless ones for work, skulls will always be interesting and fun to draw.
Andean Cock of the Rock Pencil Sketch
I always like getting in some sketching when I go to natural history museums. This Andean Cock of the Rock was in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. I question the realism of the display having a grape vine as … Continued
White-throated Sparrow Pencil Sketch
Its hard not to like these beautiful birds. They aren’t terribly showy or colorful, but they have an attractive mix of browns, whites and blacks with a perfect touch of brilliant yellow in front of their eyes. This one is … Continued
Bluet Pencil Sketch
The warm weather has finally arrived in Michigan. That means that the damselfly and dragonfly season is finally here! Unfortunately we are also up to our armpits in mosquitoes. Speaking of unwanted arthropods,we are being overrun by ticks. Up until … Continued
American Robin Pencil Sketch
It seems to me that the American Robin could use better PR. Its true that they aren’t as flashy as the European Robins and they lack the spectacular calls of some of the other thrushes. Robins are in virtually every … Continued
American Goldfinch Pencil Sketch
Few things are as cheery as the American goldfinch. Their friendly call and rollercoaster-like flight add to their obvious visual appeal. We have an almost constant stream of them at the thistle feeders. They like to nest in the blackberry … Continued