Bird Faces

There is a lot to consider when illustrating birds, but the most fun part (and often the most challenging) is their faces. With eyes placed on the sides of their heads, a bony and often shiny protrusion sticking out in front, and small feathers going in various directions, there’s lots of detail to consider! When working on creatures with defined faces, many illustrators like to work on that area first to make sure they get it right before spending time elsewhere. This quick workshop will be a deep dive into how to approach this critical portion of a bird’s anatomy.

Nora Sherwood has a professional certificate in natural science illustration from the University of Washington and is a working artist on the Oregon coast. Her science illustration work is guided by Baba Dioum's famous quote, "In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we have been taught." In addition to commissioned work for museums, interpretive signage, commercial products and scientific journals, Nora shows work in galleries around the Pacific Northwest and teaches workshops.

For graphite studies, please bring a sketch book, a good set of drawing pencils/erasers, etc.

For color studies, you may choose to work in either watercolor or colored pencil. Please bring the appropriate materials based on your choice!

For colored pencils, please be sure to bring professional grade pencils (a 24 pencil set of Prismacolor Premier pencils is a good place to start if you aren't set up to work in colored pencils). You'll also want good drawing paper and an eraser.

For watercolor, please bring professional grade tube or pan paints, brushes (I like synthetic rounds in smaller sizes such as 4, 2, 0), palette, etc.

• professional quality Bristol board drawing paper

• 300lb. Arches hot press watercolor paper