I have begun adding ink to one of the hummingbird wings and thought I would give you an update on the progress. I am continuing to use a pen that has been modified with a scalpel, to create very fine lines; and certainly a scalpel will be more effectively accurate in cutting the tip than a razor blade. By being able to make such fine line-work it will leave enough space to then later allow for the addition of translucent watercolour to the piece. When using specimens to work from, particularly if the have been dried and not persevered through the process of taxidermy, you must account for the shape and structure being distorted and the retraction of the wings. To create realistic subjects I spend many hours observing them in their natural habitats, because this is truly the best way to understand how creatures move and then translate that onto the paper.
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