Tips on reading reference

[Wildbirdcarver]

We have all heard that you can't have too much reference. That's true, but unless you use the reference it has little or no value. For years I have been looking at bird photos mainly for color and it's placement, but that is not enough.
Please post tips on how you utilize reference material. I'll start it off with a tip that helps me for birds, but it could be used for any subject.
Make at least two lists: 1. Carving list 2. Painting list... and possibly 3. habitat list.
Then WRITE out 10 or more features that you see...look for the suttle shapes and relationships for the carving list. WRITE out the colors and placement of the colors on the painting list. If you stop before you have at least 10 items on each list you need to look some more. Give it a try and please give us your ideas. Dick

[Wildbirdcarver]

I'm getting ready to carve and paint a male eastern towhee. Here are my lists.
Yes, birds have different postures, etc and that's why you have to look at as many reference photos that you can get. Here is what I've seen on Google.
CARVING:
1. crown is round...can have little crest if feathers on back of head is raised
2. beak forms a triange from tip to lower mandible near neck and straight up to upper manible where it is at the forehead
3. note neck "bump" of feathers at back of neck
4. note cape "bump of feathers
5. feathers under eye toward neck bulge out...not a straight line from bottom of neck to top of head
6. wing tip to beginning of tail
7. wing wrist begins on a verticle line dropped down from head crown
8. neck and forehead feathers touch a verticle line
9. eye rings are really two arcs
10. leg length is same as distance from back of head to tip of beak.
11. largest part of body is round at mid-point of body

will continue paint list soon.

[Wildbirdcarver]

PAINT LIST for male eastern towhee
1. black, warm mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue
2. black head chest (note v shape) back, tail, upper tail coverts
3. white, warm on edge of primaries (partial), secondary coverts, outer tail feathers
breast, under tail coverts (pale yellow on some birds) random streaks of white from breast when covering wing
4. beak.satin black with hint of purple
5. chestnut sides. raw sienna and burnt sienna lighten with yellow or white
6. pale yellow under tail coverts...some birds
7. gray eye rings
8. high lights...light gray on black areas...depending on light source
9. shadows...away from light source
10. dark black steaks on breast near bottom edge of chestnut sides.
11. the underside of the tail is white and black. Black extends down from the base of the tail in the shape of an arrow. White is on the end half of the tail and near the black it is a "V" shape.

You may see things differently and obiously there are more details to be seen.
I believe if we follow a system we will see what we are looking at. DM

[songbirds]

The only thing - when looking for photo's of birds, that one should be careful in their selection. the reason is some photographs are enhanced by artist or the magazine. I have done it to show a particular part of a bird. Your right, use as many photo's as possible. Your an interesting person with a different perspective.
Jerry P

[Wildbirdcarver]

You're right Jerry. Photos can be deceiving. that's why we need many photos of the same bird. I think if we develop a system to note different characteristics we will be a better bird watcher which will transfer to our carvings. Forcing our mind to look for specific areas, instead of just identifying the bird, will help us capture the essence of the bird, animal, etc. IMHO. Also reading in a bird guide the discription of the bird will help a lot. In doing my towhee I found out that in Florida their eye is white to yellow. Elsewhere it is red. Go fiqure.
So far we have listed: get lots of reference, develop a system, read about the subject. Anyone willing to add to this list? Thanks DM

[Wildbirdcarver]

Another tip on reading reference is to make sure you have accurate refererence,the best is the real thing. Then multiple photos, including google specific parts of the object (bird, animal, fish) and get accurate patterns and measurements. Our own Jerry Poindexter (Songbirds)www.jerrypoindexter.4t.com has two books of song bird patterns in which he has studied the real bird, taken multiple measurements and drawn patterns. I have followed his patterns in Wildfowl carving and enjoy them very much. Check them out if you have an interest. Happy Carving, DM

[Wildbirdcarver]

Another help in reading reference is to cut a window in a piece of paper and then view that portion of the...bird, animal, fish,etc. Place the window over the small part of the reference that you want to study. View with magnification if it helps.

[Wildbirdcarver]

When "reading" your reference look for dark areas. They usually indicate where there are deeper levels on the bird or animal. So carve those areas deeper, such as where a feather goes under the upper group of feathers, etc. What have you noticed in your reference material?

[Wildbirdcarver]

I "Googled" the head of a Red-tailed hawk and notice the following:
Red-tailed hawk
Eye brow is flat to the back edge of eye, then tapers down (about
120 degrees to the horizontal line that goes through the middle of the eye. Then a crease is present that separates these feathers from the ear coverts.
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The nostril is on the same horizontal line that goes through the middle of the eye. It is triangular shaped.
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The hook on the upper mandible extends below the lower mandible the same distance as the length of the exposed part of the lower mandible.
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The throat feathers stand out
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The mandible feathers and ear coverts start at the base of the mandibles and then bulge 1/3 of the way between the back of the eye and on a vertical line from the crown. (back of the head).
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The notch of the lower mandible is covered with an arc (not sharp) that is goes the length between the hook and nostril.

The above is an example of what I previously posted on WCI on writing out at least 10 features for both carving and painting before you start your project. Yes, it takes some time but I think you will find that your carving goes faster and that you will be pleased with the result. DM

[Wildbirdcarver]

Another example of reading reference
I went to Images in Google and typed in "Warbler" Just wanted a warbler that I could look for carving and painting clues.
YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER
1.Upper tail coverts feathers slant at about 45 degrees, they don’t come straight down
2. Scapular group is broader at shoulder area than near the center of the body
3. Secondary coverts…near the tertials start out slanting down at about 45 degrees. They are irregular, with space between some of them
4. Secondary are stacked under the tertials and are quite regular
5.Tertials…top one is about ½ size of the middle one. Bottom one doesn’t show as much on this photo.
6. White eye ring…small
7. Yellow on top of head, breast near shoulder, and rump.
8. Two wing bars…on secondary coverts, and least coverts
9. Black face, bill, feet and stripes on breast.
10. White throat, breast (with stripes) above eye on two wing bars.
11. Payne’s gray top of head, back (with black stripes) tail (darker)
12. Note that the bottom 3 primaries notch in at a vertical line that connects the 3rd tertiary and the notches.

On the photos larger dark (black) areas indicate that the carving in that area should be deeper. Small dark areas maybe just painted in.