Ep.57 Painting & Drawing Birds with Tara Kate
Welcome to the conversation with bird artist and illustrator, Tara Kate.
In the conversation, yes we do talk about birds, but really it’s a conversation about details and realism and setting up an art practice that works for you.
In the conversation you’ll get some ideas for setting up focused practice, how your tools can help you train your eyes to see, and what you might need in a reference especially if you’re interested in realism. Plus we talk feathers and feet and a whole lot more.
Learn more about Tara Kate here:
In the episode we discuss:
1:09 How Tara Kate got started painting and drawing birds
1:47 Committing to one thing
3:13 Finding focus
4:28 Tara Kate’s process
5:50 Getting the drawing on the paper
6:53 Permission to go detailed
8:32 Developing skill to see details
11:36 The importance of seeing progress
13:11 The struggle of being an artist
14:22 Challenge of painting and drawing birds
17:17 Why not work from life
18:09 Limitations of photo references
19:45 What she’s thinking about while gathering references
22:57 Prepping the brain
23:47 Tools for drawing
27:04 Importance of using tools
30:18 Feathers
33:05 Choices in sketching
34:38 Getting goals to line up with approach
36:32 Learning the bird
38:34 Where does someone start
40:05 Hard parts of birds
42:15 Ongoing breakthroughs
46:11 The opportunities of challenges
48:26 Learning that mindset
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