Comments on: Teaching From Nature http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/teaching-from-nature/ Nature, art, and everything. Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:45:36 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Shanley in Ponca City, Okla. http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/teaching-from-nature/#comment-2301 Shanley in Ponca City, Okla. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:19:49 +0000 http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/teaching-from-nature/#comment-2301 I was one of those lucky students in Debby's "Field Sketching and Nature Journaling" class at Quartz Mountain. If you'll note the words "drawing demo" below a couple of her black & white drawings posted here -- that "demo" was truly an amazing process to watch. We would walk to a location. Debby would discuss a particular drawing technique she wanted us to try, and then would offer a demonstration first. She would select a bush, or rock, or cactus, and squat down as we huddled around her, trying to peer over her shoulder. Within just a few minutes, she would scratch out the most beautiful image. It seemed the easiest, most natural, simplest thing to do! (Of course, my pencil didn't seem to work exactly the way Debby's did.) The last day as we hiked to a drawing spot, Debby spotted a green-throated warbler (if I remember right) in the brush. She stopped us mid-trail so she could quickly sketch the twitchy little bird whose after-movements were all most of us could see. I was lucky enough to be standing right behind her and had a bird's-eye view of her paper as she recreated the little feathered fellow. It was a remarkable few days in the Oklahoma outdoors. Thank you, Debby! I'm still working on that circle and egg thing - it's coming along, slowly but surely. I was one of those lucky students in Debby’s “Field Sketching and Nature Journaling” class at Quartz Mountain.

If you’ll note the words “drawing demo” below a couple of her black & white drawings posted here — that “demo” was truly an amazing process to watch.

We would walk to a location. Debby would discuss a particular drawing technique she wanted us to try, and then would offer a demonstration first. She would select a bush, or rock, or cactus, and squat down as we huddled around her, trying to peer over her shoulder.

Within just a few minutes, she would scratch out the most beautiful image. It seemed the easiest, most natural, simplest thing to do! (Of course, my pencil didn’t seem to work exactly the way Debby’s did.)

The last day as we hiked to a drawing spot, Debby spotted a green-throated warbler (if I remember right) in the brush. She stopped us mid-trail so she could quickly sketch the twitchy little bird whose after-movements were all most of us could see. I was lucky enough to be standing right behind her and had a bird’s-eye view of her paper as she recreated the little feathered fellow.

It was a remarkable few days in the Oklahoma outdoors. Thank you, Debby! I’m still working on that circle and egg thing – it’s coming along, slowly but surely.

]]> By: otterdotes http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/teaching-from-nature/#comment-2255 otterdotes Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:23:41 +0000 http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/teaching-from-nature/#comment-2255 Wow these are amazing! Wow these are amazing!

]]> By: Janet http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/teaching-from-nature/#comment-2170 Janet Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:44:40 +0000 http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/teaching-from-nature/#comment-2170 This is just fabulous! It makes me ready to pack up my own sketchbook and camera and head up north (I love the coast of Maine). Especially as the next few days will be warm and beautiful. So, you're in New Hampshire this weekend? You never know, we may cross paths! Janet This is just fabulous! It makes me ready to pack up my own sketchbook and camera and head up north (I love the coast of Maine). Especially as the next few days will be warm and beautiful.

So, you’re in New Hampshire this weekend? You never know, we may cross paths!

Janet

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