As our #buildabird challenge shifts from designing bodies and legs to imagining wings and tails, here is a look back at how I approached Stage 1 of our April Daily Watercolor Challenge, and some of my favorite body and leg creations and combinations.

I started by trying to cover all the bases of the prompts – round, plump, tall, etc – without agonising over them too much.

Then I did the same for the legs (and I’ll tell you a secret if you won’t tell anyone – I used brush pens!)

Then I cut out all of the bodies and all of the legs. This is completely optional of course, but it does make it much easier to play with different combinations, and who doesn’t like spending half an hour like a kindergartener once in a while?!

And then the real fun begins…

I played with all sorts of combinations of legs and bodies, turning the bodies around to see what would happen.

Then I turned back to the prompt list to see what I could come up with to match the suggestions:

• round & plump
• tall & skinny
• short & squat
• teardrop shaped
• fluffy & ruffled
• odd & asymmetrical

Here are the combinations that I think fit the prompt list best. I’m itching to give them eyes and beaks – but all good things come to those who wait. It’s wings and tails next!

I hope you had as much fun completing Stage 1 of the #buildabird challenge as I did, and I look forward to seeing your Stage 2 creations over the coming days!