daily art january
daily art january

What's your favourite animal to sketch?

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Fishbird Central Newsletter

It’s time to make Daily Art in January 2025!! 😀

If you’ve ever felt the itch to create a masterpiece, but hesitated to pick up a brush – January is your month to dive in!

Join us on a fun, judgment-free journey into creativity, guided by the magic of animals and the playful possibilities of gouache.

Every day, we’ll meet a new animal friend. Choose an animal from Pinterest that speaks to you (extra points if it’s literally speaking to you) and then sketch away! Bring to life a new friend complete with their own unique backstory.

When we make art, it’s not about perfection; it’s about discovering the joy of creating, one brushstroke at a time, and then turning them into a fictional crime-solver.

With each animal you sketch and paint, you’ll grow in confidence, learn to embrace your style, and realise that starting is the hardest but most rewarding step.

So grab your supplies, set aside your doubts, and join us on this monthly adventure! By the end of January, you won’t just have a collection of animal portraits – you’ll have the courage to call yourself an artist!

Let’s start creating together and make Daily Art in January!

* All character bios are the property and fever dream of Fishbird Central. Stay tuned for further adventures from our plucky detectives! Let us know which storyline appeals to you the most!

IN THIS POST

Bective the Beef Detective & Egret Pete

bective and egret pete 
Who did we sketch?:

Meet Bective the Beef Detective, and his side-kick Egret Pete!

Character Bio:

Bective the Beef Detective is a sharp-witted, hoof-tapping cow with a knack for sniffing out trouble in a paddock quicker than he can eat a lovingly-made quiche. 

Known in detective circles for his impeccable sleuthing skills, Bective has been solving barnyard mysteries for 7 years, along with his trusty sidekick Egret Pete. 

Egret Pete is a harmonica-playing bird with a love for top hats and a flair for dramatic entrances. 

The duo are inseparable, navigating muddy fields, haylofts, and shady corners of the pasture together, except when Pete whips out his harmonica. At that point, Bective’s finely tuned ears force a hasty retreat, but even then, their bond remains unbreakable. 

Together, they’ve become legends, blending brains, banter, worms, dairy and just the right amount of barnyard charm.

Pictured here, racing across the field on the hoof of a new case!

What supplies did we use?:

Pencil sketch, gouache paint & fineliner.

Scratchley and Boots

Scratchley and Boots 
Who did we sketch?:

Meet Scratchley and Boots!

Character Bio:

Scratchley and Boots are the ultimate crime-fighting duo. Scratchley is a clever street cat with razor-sharp instincts. Boots is a determined short-sighted dog with a nose for trouble (and leftover lasagne). 

Partners since their first taste of chicken biscuits, this dynamic pair have made it their mission to clean up the streets … whether that means tackling the local criminal element or tidying up food scraps along the way. 

Their whiskers are twitching over rumours of a gang of rogue mice who’ve set up shop in a house on Quackers Lane. 

Utilising Scratchley’s knack for stealth and Boots’ unshakable loyalty and lack of spacial awareness – they’re hatching a plan to bring the mischief-makers to justice, one paw-step at a time.

Let’s just hope the mice are not part of the Cheese Corporation, or this is going to turn into a rodent rodeo our team are not prepared for.

What supplies did we use?:

Pencil sketch, gouache paint & fineliner.

Wingcliffe and Cheeseley

Wingcliffe and Cheeseley 
Who did we sketch?:

Meet Wingcliffe and Cheeseley!

Character Bio:

Wingcliffe, a sharp-eyed crow with a shadowy past, is a detective for hire. He’s known for solving the unsolvable … except for the one case that still haunts him, the escape of his nemesis Brad Bartley, a cunning ibis with a penchant for chaos. 

Wingcliffe’s sleuthing partner is Cheeseley, a studious mouse and avid reader who serves as research assistant and general wings-body, piecing together clues from dusty books and burrowing into hidden archives. 

Together, they’ve taken on all manner of mysteries, but their latest case – tracking down a missing salmon named George Peterson – has unearthed an uneasy suspicion. 

Could the hunt for George lead them right back into the treacherous food court that Bartley calls home? 

With their wits and courage tested once again, the duo prepares to face the murky waters of the past.

What supplies did we use?:

Pencil sketch, gouache paint & fineliner.

Tin Can Sam and Bob

tin can sam and bob 
Who did we sketch?:

Meet Tin Can Sam and his boss, Bob.

Character Bio:

Tin Can Sam is a goat with a nose for trouble and a taste for evidence. 

TC Sam is a scrappy detective working in the SVU (Scrapyard Vice Unit), where the cases are as tough as the metal he loves to chew. 

His boss, Bob, a no-nonsense rabbit with a keen eye and a sharp mind, has seen potential in TC Sam despite his penchant for devouring crucial clues. 

But can TC Sam be trusted to not eat his progress?!

With one last chance to prove himself, TC Sam is determined to kick the can-chomping habit and show Bob he’s got the guts – and brains – to crack the toughest cases. 

But can the duo solve their latest scrapyard mystery before Sam’s cravings get the better of him?

What supplies did we use?:

Pencil sketch, gouache paint & fineliner.

GlenGary Grey-Goose

the goose is loose 
Who did we sketch?:

Meet Glengary Grey-Goose!

Character Bio:

Glengary Grey-Goose fancies himself a master of disguise, swearing that with a simple change of neckerchief, he can transform himself into anyone – or anything – needed to crack a case.

A self-proclaimed genius detective, he solves local mysteries in exchange for his favourite payment: corn.

But trouble’s afoot in the quiet town of Lakeview! Rufus Doppledoodle, a sly poodle with a paw in every shady deal, has cornered the corn trade.

Now, Glengary must don his most daring disguises yet to infiltrate Rufus’s operation, uncover his secrets, and secure his precious kernels before the trail goes cold.

What supplies did we use?:

Pencil sketch, gouache paint & fineliner.

Mr Bojangles

mr bojangles 
Who did we sketch?:

Meet Mr Bojangles!

Character Bio:

Mr Bojangles, the flamboyant cockatoo and beloved owner of Birdsville’s hottest open-mic club “Beak Easy”, is the heart and soul of the downtown music scene. 

Known for his dazzling performances and the way his melodies could silence even the rowdiest crowd, Bojangles is the star attraction. 

But when his voice suddenly vanishes, Mr Bojangles suspects it’s more than just a bad molt – it’s heartbreak. 

His best friend, Valerie, a soulful boxer dog and celebrated beat poet, left for the big city, and her absence has left a void no song can fill. 

Now, Mr. Bojangles faces a choice: stay tethered to the safety of his club or spread his wings and follow the trail of friendship to find Valerie and rediscover his voice.

What supplies did we use?:

Pencil sketch, gouache paint & fineliner.

Ken Eucalyptus

Ken Eucalyptus 
Who did we sketch?:

Meet Ken Eucalyptus!

Character Bio:

Ken Eucalyptus, the charismatic and cunning koala, is the undisputed kingpin of the Australian eucalyptus trade. 

With his sleepy-eyed charm, he’s convinced all the other animals to swap their diets for his specially curated eucalyptus leaves, leaving them too drowsy to question his true motives. 

Behind the scenes, Ken is quietly filling all their homes with crates of beetroot, his secret obsession and the crop he believes will make him fabulously wealthy once the animals get a taste. 

As the sleepy animals snooze away, Ken dreams of a beetroot empire Рbut how long can he keep his leafy fa̤ade intact before the truth comes to light?

What supplies did we use?:

Pencil sketch, gouache paint & fineliner.

More Art Challenges and inspiration!

If you liked this post, check out some more Fishbird Draws:

Picture of Jen Payne

Jen Payne

Life is just one long road trip towards a bookstore.

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