I learned the song “Mockin’ Bird Hill” by Patti Page as a sixth grader. It left me with a deep and lasting appreciation for the beauty tucked inside that song and for the mockingbird.
The mockingbird’s range hasn’t quite reached our locality in Maine. But hearing him singing on a moonlit night when I’m away from home brings me precious memories!
You will need:
- Regular paper
- Card stock
- Pencil
- Black ultra fine-tip marker
- Foam sheet
- Soft-lead pencil colors
- Acrylic paints
- #20 fat brush
- #1 tiny brush
- Decorating chalks
- On regular paper, lightly mark 1” squares. Lightly again, sketch this sprightly bird block by block. When you feel satisfied, trace over your drawing with a black fine-tip marker. Then, using a pencil, trace your scene lightly onto card stock paper.
- Carefully do the eye with goldenrod. Then use the fine-tip marker to carefully pen in the black pupil with its white highlight. (An “alive” eye gives courage to continue!) Now place a soft foam sheet underneath and do a very light shading of black with the underhand grip. Note hints of brown mixed with white and gray. The final finish should be a smooth burnishing with white, avoiding the black areas. I added a tiny bit of further distinction to this bird with a faint black outlining.
- Add the darker black of wing and tail with a hard surface underneath. As always, switch to paint for corrections or clarifications.
- Do the pussy willow branches with your #1 brush and a mix of red, black, and brown paint. If you wish, further clarify lines with a fine-tip black marker. The catkins are small quick dabs of gray and white paint, using your #1 brush.
- With decorating chalks and a fat #20 brush, brush on a background blush of lavender and blue. Then look at your drawing with a critical eye. More details? A few corrections? Clarify a troublesome spot? Okay, but finally do consider it well done! (I needed to do this myself.)
