Thanks for those kind words. I took in approximately half the amount of alcohol before and during the Goosanders as the R B Mergs, which may explain the artistic progression to something a little more controlled..I'm might see if I can settle on a drawing and drinking style somewhere at this level.
As for the background, it reminded me of something when I did it and I am never bashful about disclosing influences- somewhere in the memory bank but sadly not on my bookshelf are the illustrations by A W Seaby in British Birds (the Kirkman and Jourdain book published in the 1930s, not the mag
...). Out of curiosity I've just had a look and if you search "a w seaby tufted duck" on ebay you can see what I mean- warm faded colours and white ripples painted on top. Of course he definitely wasn't working in photoshop.
Ed K
