Works on this page represent chronological versions of some of Ken's recent larger drawings and watercolors. Ken also maintains a Birding and Drawing Blog that includes both writings about and photos of his current work. The top two images are charcoal and pastel drawings. The first is based on a photo of an Acadian Flycatcher seen near South River Falls in Shenandoah National Park in May, 2008. The second is based on photos he took of a Wood Duck and ducklings at Tinicum(John Heinz Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia, PA) on Memorial Day weekend in 2008.
This is Ken's first representational pastel work in many years. He did do one abstract pastel in 2006 but other than that it has been at least five years since he worked in pastel. Charcoal and pastel allow far more mistakes and reworking than watercolor so it has been a pleasant change from that more disciplined and less familiar medium. The Canada Warbler was photographed in Shenandoah National Park in May, 2007. The next four images are based on a photograph that Ken took of a Carolina Wren in the snow at Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. Following these are various stages of a Red-Eyed Vireo, based on a photo taken in Shenandoah National Park. The bottom images show the progression of a watercolor of robins. This was based on a photo of nine robins at his backyard birdbath in the winter of 2007.
'Acadian Flycatcher v6', 14x17, charcoal and pastel.
'Acadian Flycatcher v4', 14x17, charcoal and pastel.
'Acadian Flycatcher v3', 14x17, charcoal and pastel.
'Acadian Flycatcher v23', 14x17, charcoal and pastel.
'Wood Duck and Ducklings v4', 14x17, charcoal and pastel.
'Wood Duck and Ducklings v3', 14x17, charcoal and pastel.
'Wood Duck and Ducklings v1', 14x17, charcoal and pastel.
'Canada Warblers V. 5', 20x28, pen, ink, and watercolor.
'Canada Warblers V. 4', 20x28, pen, ink, and watercolor.
'Canada Warblers V. 2', 20x28, pen, ink, and watercolor.
'Canada Warblers V. 1', 20x28, pen and ink.
'Carolina Wren V. 4', 20x28, watercolor.
'Carolina Wren V. 3', 20x28, watercolor.
'Carolina Wren V. 2', 20x28, watercolor.
'Carolina Wren V. 1', 20x28, watercolor.
'Red-Eyed Vireo V. 4', 20x28, watercolor.
'Red-Eyed Vireo V. 1', 20x28, watercolor.
'Nine Robins V.4', 20x28, watercolor.
'Nine Robins V.1', 20x28, pencil on watercolor paper.
