Haliaeetus leucocephalus

I have started work on an image involving bald eagles (Latin: see post title). I am going to show my whole process if you can stomach the awful thumbnails and sketches that have to happen before any cool color stuff begins. I feel the same as many artists before me, that the process of making a good image is like making a great meal. You have to go an get all of the ingredients -the thinking part, then mix, blend, stir, kneed etc.- thumbnailing, composing ruff drawing and storytelling, then bake, cook, or chill- the refined drawing with attention to value and visual impact. While the detail or color part is most enjoyable part, like getting to sample your meal or sneek some desert.
The whole process should be fun, and yeah, like a lot of people I can't wait to get a taste of the good stuff so I find I skip important steps in the "cooking" process. But when you stay in the kitchen and keep serious about the "dish" it makes the tasting even more enjoyable.
Here are some first steps in the process. Again this first stage of the cooking process is a bit unappetizing, but I 'm going to hope you enjoy the meal when it's done...Some of the first sketchbook stuff
getting a bit more refinedNow I remember what eagles look like...good thing they have some at the SFzoo. The thumb at the top right is the one I chose to go with.Getting there...(the pot's starting to simmer)A final sketch. Ready for the first taste. Stay tuned.