Pencil to Paint

Here are a couple of bird paintings I have done in a sketchbook. I have included the original pencil drawings to show my work.

I have always felt more comfortable with grey scale and line than I do with paint and form.

I tend to overwork the paint and get lost in the process. Leaving the image "muddy".

Whereas the pencil work is loose and quick, my painting feels stiff and static.

I have this one sketchbook with all birds. Each time I draw one I am tempted to stop, but the point of the sketchbook is to try and improve on my color choices and brush work.

Hopefully, as I fill up the pages I will indeed see some sort of improvement.