Tag: birds
Fun in the Sun
We were graced with a week of lovely summer weather and I got the hiking boots out. In Iceland the general rule is, it’s sunny, you must go out. Basically it is now or never.
Today it is pouring out there, so time for a drawing update. Beside me having fun with animal watercolours, I have been doing character sketches for my next book. So watch this space.
Meanwhile I like how these two toucans turned out.
Weekly Planners without a Plan
New week new motivation. I made more planners and only semi so so followed my plan. Has been a very productive 2 weeks though.
I have been adding more of the weekly planners on my ETSY.
I also finished several 2026 calendars just right in time for February! Check them out here!
Have a great rest of the week!
Inktober Day 30 – Vacant
Slowed down and went blank just before the finishing line. I eventually ended up having fun with this one and added coloured ink to it.
Gone south, that will be the theme soon.
Inktober Day 6 – Pierce
Sticking to exploring different kinds of animals. Seagulls are weird though. We occasionally have huge seagulls sitting on our balcony. Looking at their beaks, I definitely wouldn’t want to get too close to them.
Day 9 – 100 Animals
As mentioned previously, I gave in to my need to draw cute dogs… Do you have a favourite animal?
Happy weekend!
Day 7 – 100 Animals
Alight more dogs, but I am trying to mix it up again with. Sausage dogs are the weirdest creatures. And it’s been a long time since I drew a capybara. Here is the whole collection, in case you missed them. You can also find the odd Capybara in my Etsy shop.
I love ink. And yes it can get messy…
Day 5 – 100 Animals
The journey continues….
Secretary bird. I had to look up if he actually exists, with all those AI images I wasn’t sure. And he exists indeed, this cool looking dude.
The secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a unique, large raptor native to sub-Saharan Africa, known for its impressive snake-hunting abilities and distinctive appearance.
He stands about 1.2 to 1.4 meters (approximately 4 to 4.5 feet) tall, making it one of the tallest birds of prey. It has a wingspan of over 2 meters (6.6 feet).
Day 3 – 100 Animals
Sun is shining, but it’s freezing cold out there. Perfect drawing weather. Another page filled with random animals. What other weird and wonderful animals are out there?
Birds of a feather flock together…
I finally tidied up my desk and came across all those ink bottles I bought over the years. Thought it was time to give some of those different colours a try. I usually just go straight for black ink but I quite like the look of the indigo one, the bird on the far left.
Do you use colours other than black Indian ink?
Mural – Part III
After the mess of the first round of photos (here are part I and part II) you must be curious how the whole thing actually turned out.
Well,… what do you think?
I didn’t notice that the photo turned out a bit blurry when I took them because the sun was blinding. So the pictured are just as unfocused and random as the mural itself….
Odd Turtle complete
Alright, my finished digital drawing attempt. What do you think about the style?
Not sure about the composition. Drew the first thing that came to mind… and added the birds because… reasons.. The pose could certainly be improved.
Happy Monday!
Progress with Turtle
I am experimenting more with different brushes, trying to find my digital drawing style. I don’t like digital illustrations when they look stiff and too neat and would like to still make it look hand drawn. So I have been experimenting with different brushes and techniques over the weekend. What do you think?
Turtle is my subject or rather victim of choice. I am just having fun with it.
Illustration practice II
Another attempt at a master copy which I then decided to put my own spin on it. Original “Buried Head” by Souther Salazar.
Watercolour, ink, and coloured pencils.
Lunch Buffet
Summer was so busy with work and other things, that I have been neglecting the blog and my art for the last couple of months!
This definitely needs to change! First step was taken last weekend when I finally managed to clean up my drawing desk. I now have no excuses not to start drawing next weekend.
I am also planning to do Inktober again, so I will hopefully start positing some warm-up sketches next week, just to get back into a drawing routine.
Meanwhile I started colouring in scenes from my own capybara drawing book.
Taxi Ride
Capybaras are excellent swimmers and some species like to use them as a free taxi service too.
Illustration from my latest Capybaras and Friends Colouring Book.
Feeding Birds
Another ink drawing from my sketchbook from last month. Not sure why I haven´t colored it in. Might still do so at some point.
Be Like a Duck
Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like hell underneath.
– Michael Caine
I think I’ve finally developed quite a good routine with my daily drawing practice. This time without ink.
Capybara & Friends
Good friends are the most important in life.
Flight of the Pelican
After drawing 100 people it was about time to throw in a random pelican in between.
Happy Monday!
Melanie Franz 