Week Three: Sketchy's Challenge

It was awesome that so many of you took up the challenge to draw the egret! The background space around the egret is called negative space. The space that the egret occupies in your drawing is called positive space. Where the negative space meets the positive space shows you the edges of the bird. This is very helpful when drawing the edges of something. We'll learn more about positive and negative space in our next lessons.

Here's some info about positive and negative space: Click here

Here's the reference picture from Sketchy's Challenge so you can compare your drawing: Click here

And here are your drawings of the egret:


Craig
Overall, you captured the egret's body and curve of its neck. Great job on the facial features and showing the contrast between the shadows and highlights of the body. You've done a good job of getting the angle of the area where the legs meet the body. Check the angles and natural curves in the reference picture. How do they compare to your drawing?


Elvis
Good job of showing the proportions and overall angle of the egret's body. The angle and form of the legs are well drawn. Excellent how you included the gray tones for shadow areas and highlights. I like the way you've shown the delicate edges of the feathers on its shoulders. Compare the curve of the neck in your drawing to the reference picture. is the 's' shape the same? If you have time to do a quick study sketch of only the neck area, I'd like to see it.


Gage
Good job of capturing the overall proportions of the egret. The gray tones you've drawn show the form of its body. The contrast of the dark gray legs compared to the body helps make the bird look more realistic. Your confidence in using bold lines is showing in this drawing! Also the contour lines and angle of the legs look natural.


Jaime
You did a good job of drawing the overall form and proportions of the egret. The form of the beak looks very natural. I like how you added the feathers where the legs attach to the body. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Does the curve of the neck look the same?


Jared
Overall, you did a good job of drawing the proportions of the egret's body and head. You did a good job of drawing the form of its head and the 's' turn of the neck. I liked how you erased highlights on the body and head. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Is the length of the neck the same?


Leif
The background, plants in the foreground, and form of the egret make for an excellent composition. You did a great job of drawing the bird's beak, head, and 's' shape of the neck. I like the gray tones and highlights that form its body. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Does the area where the neck joins to the body look the same? The way you've drawn the legs makes them look natural.


Michael
The control of your lines has improved a lot! Excellent job of drawing the proportions of the egret's head and body. You did a very good job of drawing the beak, eye, and curve of the neck. I like how you took the time to show the shaded tones and highlights of the body.


Ricky
Good job of drawing the overall proportions of the egret. You captured the curve of the 's' curve of the neck and the area where the neck attaches to the body. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Are there places where the neck could be wider or narrower? Good job showing the contrast of gray tones and highlighted feathers.

It was cool that our two teachers, Hilda and Patty, joined in Sketchy's Challenge, too!


Hilda
I really like how you blended the gray tones in the background, bringing the plants and the egret to the foreground. I really like the subtle contrast of the gray tones of the bird's body with the highlights of the feathers.


Patty
Excellent contour lines that show the form of the egret, especially the head and facial features. I really like the detailed line work used for showing the feathers, eye, and beak. Also like the flowing lines you used to indicate the plant. Patty, I look forward to seeing any details that you've added to the lighthouse drawing you're working on.