Friday 1 March 2024

Friday Face OFF -- Thrush

For this week's Friday Face OFF link party
of art featuring faces, hosted by Nicole of

Here is a thrush, specifically
a Townsend's Solitaire,
which I did in pen and ink
with an ink wash background --


I always love the bright, round eyes of birds!

I'm not a birder, but I know
many of you out there
enjoy seeing, identifying,
and photographing birds.

What is your favourite thing about that pastime?

[Art and photo of art © Debra She Who Seeks, 2023]

46 comments:

Tom said...

...Debra, I can't imagine being able to draw like this. I'm glad that you can!!!

Joyce said...

I just find birds so amazing. Wild turkeys gliding across a valley with no wing flapping. A kingfisher diving from a telephone line into what appears to be about three inches of water. A
robin who looks like Medusa with a bunch of worms in its beak. So many wonderful talents , colors and shapes. Loved the drawing you are very talented, Joyce

Parnassus said...

Hello Debra, Your skills are getting serious! This truly looks like an illustration in a nature book.
--Jim

Marie Smith said...

Great job! I love the glimpse into their world one gets when birding. It takes all worldly cares away!

Old Lurker said...

I wish I could identify birds better, especially by their songs. Alas.

How did you know it was a Townsend's Solitaire?

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Old Lurker -- The art instructor told us. Left to my own devices, I would simply call it "bird."

sirkkis said...

Such a sweetie 😘
Well done Debra 👍

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

This is impressive.
I would buy this and frame it. In a heartbeat.

XOXO

Christine said...

Lovely

LA Paylor said...

ooooo perfectly interpreted thrush... beautiful! It takes really looking and really seeing to draw like this.
I very much like your blog title. I also am a seeker... nice to meet you!
LeeAnna at not afraid of color

Lady M said...

Lovely Townsends Solitaire soon to be renamed something else. We get those here in Colorado - their call sounds like a squeaky door hinge.

angela said...

Looks awesome. Very talented indeed

Sandy said...

WOW!! The details in the bird are awesome. YOu are truly very talented. I can't imagine being able to do that.

Kirk said...

Very good drawing.

I still can't get my head around the no-longer-novel scientific theory that says birds are descended from dinosaurs. That may be one reason to watch them right there.

Bob said...

Gorgeous, as always!

This N That said...

You are really good! I don't do feathers faces or fur!!! Have a good weekend.

bobbie said...

Well done, Debra!! I love all the detail ~
bobbie

DVArtist said...

I have to tell you that I am so impressed with your art. I always look at your drawings closely to see the strokes you use and how your shading is applied. I am taken with this piece. Thank you for joining FFO and have a very nice day.

Linda said...

Both bird and branch are wonderful Debra. Well done♥

Tundra Bunny said...

What a lovely sketch! I'm not a birder, but I can see how people become fascinated by all the different sizes, shapes and colours of birds. I've been very lucky over the course of my career to have seen Snowy Owls, Great Horned Owls, Peregrine falcons, Hawks, Bald Eagles, Ptarmigan, Herons, Whooping Cranes, Snow Geese, Canada Geese, Eider Ducks, Piping Plovers, Orioles, Ravens and Yellow Warblers to name a few, and all in the wild!

Tasker Dunham said...

Beautiful texture.

Rosemary said...

Another lovely piece of artwork from you Debra which would be a credit to any bird book.

Jeanie said...

This is wonderful, Debra. I love the look of the pen and ink -- you really got the texture and tone spot on and the eye is so good! and thank you for coming by today. You're faster than I am!

Fundy Blue said...

Wonderful thrush, Debra! It would be difficult to do a better rendering. I adore birds, and some of my earliest memories are about birds. I'm always watching for them, but I am not a serious birdwatcher. I am drawn to their beauty and songs; plus, they are the descendants of dinosaurs.

roentare said...

The bird is looking so good!

Mike said...

Here it is March 1st and most of the birds are back already. You should be seeing birds coming back also.

I would think it's harder to do a bird in B&W rather than color. You have all the shades of grey to deal with rather than different colors.

Liz Hinds said...

Except the bright yellow eyes of some seagulls. They are terrifying. Lovely drawing - or do you call it painting?

Violetta said...

A really nice painting.
Have a good time
Violetta

The Happy Whisk said...

Love the art work. You do an excellent job with these. I'm not a birder either. Love, love hearing them outside today, singing. I saw a blue bird. I don't though care which birds I see. Just like hearing them sing.

Adam said...

Very nice 🎨

Mary Bolton said...

Love it when a bird I have never seen before pops into view!

carol l mckenna said...

Awesome, awesome, awesome ~ great drawing ! hugs,

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Richard said...

I just like seeing them. They are so interesting. They have a different way of being in the world. I love the colors, the sounds, i love the way that they are older than us. In most places, there is a bird nearby. I am happy to live with them.
They are living miracles. The day that I see a bird is a good day.

This bird, Townsend solitaire is a winter time bird where I live. You don't see them everyday. Birds are like a portal into other worlds.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Birds are extra meaningful to me these days. Blackbirds appear to be watching over me at home. I see them nearby whenever I step out or come home. My favorite of all birds is, naturally, the robin.

As I've said before, you're a very talented artist. I love this picture - the shades of black, white, gray, and the shadowing. The eye, striking. Exquisite work!

Keep enjoying your artistic journeys.

Happy March to you.

My name is Erika. said...

I'm late- it's been a busy weekend. Your thrush is gorgeous. Will you leave it black and white or add color? hugs-Erika

LL Cool Joe said...

That's a great drawing, I never got on well with pen and ink.

https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com said...

Beautiful bird and work.

Bea said...

Gorgeous thrush. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. x

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

My internet has created a glitch, so I am running late visiting. I am in total awe of your thrush. It is amazing. I could never draw like that and I admire that you do it so well.

Hena Tayeb said...

Beautifully done.

baili said...

this is incredible dear Debra as always
hats off to you for creating the turning neck so beautifully i think this is quite a task but not for amazing artist like you my beautiful talented friend :)
i am greatly in love with birds ,if i would have lived in village with big yard i would have make sure to make them my guest every day with offering them grains :)

The Blog Fodder said...

Your sketches are incredible. Do you do customm work?

Bracken Crafts- 100 garments said...

Lovely. I really should attempt to do more art. I used to draw when I was a twenty someting then stopped. You ae obviously getting very skilled so it pays off to keep on drawing. Something to add to my bucket list!

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is a lovely Thrush!! I love all the birds because I'm a bird nerd.

Rommy said...

Really nicely done!

Barbara said...

Debra, this drawing is amazing. I'm so jealous of your talent. Wish I had some drawing/painting skills.