It never gets old
When bird nests are carefully preserved, they can last a long time. The ones you see here were constructed and collected at least 100 years ago. They eventually found their way into the ornithology collection of the New York State Museum in Albany, where they were carefully wrapped with cotton batting, boxed, and stored in metal cabinets. I was thrilled to get a peek inside recently and be allowed to take out several nests to photograph and sketch. I’ll use the photos in upcoming classes and projects, but seeing the real thing was a treasure. Like the subject itself, sketching nests just never gets old.
Fall Workshops– I’ve just listed several in person workshops for fall 2024. If you live near New York’s Capital Region or Massachusetts’ Berkshires, I’d love for you to join me. Plus, Winslow Art Center has just announced is lineup of travel workshops for 2025– I’ll be teaching one in Italy in October 2025. I’ll post a new online class through Winslow Art Center soon.
Drawn In 
Happy for you that you had this opportunity to sketch these treasured nests. The opportunity to see your work never gets old, either!
That is so sweet of you! Thanks!
Wow–what a great opportunity.
Travel sketching in Italy 2025…have to keep my eye out for that!
Hope you’ll consider Italy. It’s an amazing setting– great food, accommodations, location, and wonderful place to explore and paint.
Love!! 🌻Will you please change my ema
How beautiful! It makes me smile to learn that you enjoy looking at preserved nests. I have 2 nests in a box in my living room and I have drawn one so far, the Junco’s. The Robin’s nest is next. Your drawings are just lovely.
Thanks Janice. I had limited time in the collection so decided to focus on nests that I might not find in the wild. I’ll continue to work with them over the next few months.
There is always a sense of wonder and joy in your sketches – the world is so full of delightful and mysterious things. Your close looks always make me so happy!
Thanks so much…your comment makes me happy!
I loved the drawings, but I couldn’t read some of the writing. I’m old but usually have no trouble reading online script — also an artist.
HI Patsy- I just labeled what each nest is and included a note about the dimensions.
I just love your nest drawings. You should do a zoom class on nests.
Thanks Lucille- I’m debating whether to offer a multi-session class just on nests or to include nests as part of a class on tapping museum collections. I have some great reference material from my behind-the-scenes visits to several collections.
Both classes would be great. I loved drawing the collection at Hog Island.
Thanks for the feedback. I loved working in the lab at Hog Island too.
I always really admire your drawings of nests of various kinds. The detail is fantastic and they look so realistic. I just don’t have that kind of patience for all those many pieces and parts. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Teresa. When working in ink, I just go with the flow of the strands and the values until the nest is complete. I’m not trying to be perfect, so I just get in a zone and go. On the other hand– working on a nest solely in paint requires lots of patience. So many layers and waiting for the paint to dry– painted nests take much longer to complete.
Beautiful sketching
Thanks Jane!
I’m thinking that it never gets old partly because it’s so damned challenging! 😉
Maybe…but more because there is so much variety.
That’s nice, you’re right…there was an interesting story on NPR radio the other day about African weaver birds building different “styles” of nests. Scientists determined that the variations were cultural and passed down through generations, not instinctual or environmental. I’d love to see that little Blue-gray gnatcatcher nest! I’m hearing their call in my mind now – haven’t heard it for years.