Nightling

Lately, I've found a love for charcoal pieces and what you've done here is very well done. First off, thank you for giving me the opportunity to critique it and also, I hope you find what I have to say useful. Let's do this thang~ <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/s/s…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Smile)"/>

THE GOOD: First off, the realistic feel here is wonderfully exectured. I actually feel like I'm looking at a real bird. The figure and shape of the bird is also well done, you don't know how many times I've seen great charcoal works become reuined by a lack of proper proportions and such. As for the shape of the bird, it's nearly perfect and I do have one comment about it. As for the rest of the picture, it all seems very clean and it all works with other parts of the picture. Having the simple black background works best with the bird perched on the tree branch. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/s/s…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Smile)"/>

Okay, the next section is generally the longest, but it's only because I tend to nit-pick in the hopes that the smaller details are even better than they were before. Don't be discouraged, and I'm sorry if I sound harsh from here on out. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/s/s…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Smile)"/>

What could be worked on: Okay, the first thing that I can think of that needed work was just bottom half of the bird. Not exactly the legs, but more the round shape of the bird on the bottom half. It seems to be shakily drawn, and needs to be more rounded in my opinion. For the most part, it's good, however you can see then uneven tendency in that particular area. As for the tail, it seems like it could be fanned out more. [link] This is a bird picture I found on google and it seems to closely resemble the one you've drawn here, but I'm quite aware that it is not the same bird (or at least, I think, correct me if I'm wrong please). If you look closely, the tail is slightly longer and gets wider at the end. With what you've drawn it seems a little short and needs to start off thinner where it connects to the body of the bird. That way, it looks even more realistic. It's the little things and extra effort that make the picture, after all. Now, my last note on this picture is shading. for the branch, it seems like it lacks in shading, so perhaps if you were to add some dark tones and highlights, it'd make the brank have that uneven, rough surface. on the bird, you have the light shades, but even thought the body of the bird is supposed to be white, it seems to lack the darker tones on the bottom of the bird's body. This is the same case with the tail feathers. With those extra, but subtle and not overdone dark tones, you'll add another dimension to the picture that gives it more of a pop of realism.

Other than these points that I've made, this picture is very skillfully drawn for only your second charcoal drawing. You are very skilled and I hope to see more of your art like this. Once again, thank you for the honor and I hope you find my critique helpful. <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/s/s…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Smile)"/> Keep drawing my dear, you have talent.