Sketching Birds with Trevor Smith

Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers

Maximum Capacity: 12

Course Description:

A one day workshop aimed at introducing and exploring the subject of sketching birds. Suitable for anyone with an urge to draw!

The day will include:

• A look at simple avian anatomy, focussing on the movement of the skeleton and feathers and their effects upon form and structure.
• Simple sketching techniques for capturing an image.
• A brief discussion on suitable materials for use in the field.
• A brief look at foreshortening effects.
• Adding colour to a sketch.
• Putting it all into practice using reference material.

Materials List:

Participants will need to provide the following materials:

• A good quality pad or book of cartridge paper, or loose sheets.
• A selection of B grade pencils, charcoal, or graphite drawing pencils.
• An eraser.
• A colour medium; for example: Watercolour, coloured pencils, pastels etc, for applying colour to sketches if desired. (one medium is enough)

While colour can be applied onto cartridge paper with good results, watercolour, or pastel paper or board may be preferred by some participants.

NB – Reference material will be supplied on the day, but participants are advised to bring photographic reference of desired subjects, if the intention is to draw a particular species.

Artist’s Profile:

Trevor is a wildlife artist whose inspiration comes from British wildlife; working from life wherever possible.

Sketching in pencil and watercolour, his sketchbooks provide a unique connection to a living subject that is of great value to him; they provide a record of his encounters with wildlife and, acting as aide memoirs, allow recall of past events with clarity.

Trevor is self employed and has spent much of his career working in wildlife conservation.

Trevor has taught fellow artists and novices alike to sketch birds, for many years now, specialising in passing on his experience of sketching from life, in the field.

Course Cost:

A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:

Members of Nature in Art: £55

Non-members of Nature in Art: £69

 To book a place on this course, please click here.