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From the sketchbook... (2 Viewers)

May Sketchathon, Landsort

Great week had birding. Will post sketches here and will post a more thorough account of the weeks birding at a later stage on my blog for those who are interested. First evening was fairly quiet, so spent it relaxing whilst sketching Wheatear.
 

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Long Eared Owl

The star of the show on day 2. Came in off the sea and sat beside me exhausted for 20 minutes.
 

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Whinchats were a feature of the week, sketches here from both Landsort and Möya. The colour sketch does not show the white primary covert's as i was suposed to add it later when the paint dried, will get around to it eventually!
 

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Seawatching produced 9 Arctic Skua, a favourite bird of mine, just love them. They have it all for me...
 

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Yellowhamer....Rare now in Ireland but common here, everywhere in fact. Shame we lost them at home, nice birds....
 

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Hobby. Once described to me as "******* supersonic flying machine"

Always stuck with me!
 

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Redstart

Bit heavy handed here with the colour, started out as a field sketch and ended up looking like a greeting card!
 

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Very productive indeed, all great, but my absolute favourites are the whinchats, stunningly accurate in character.
 
My first White-Billed Diver was a highlight

Singing Willow Warbler thumbnail...

Can never resist Black-throated Diver.
 

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Eider. hours spent sketching thes. Started to fill these in with ink and then decided the line drawings had a peculiar beauty as they were. Such a great bird to draw...
 

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Redwing from Möya. Great to see these singing in breeding habitat.

Finally my apoligies to Nick Derry... This Wryneck sat in front of me for 15 minutes sun bathing and was completely oblivious to my presence. All i could think about while sketching it was how much you have searched for one of these!

Hope you enjoy these sketches....
 

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Well, I was going to say nice things until I saw that wryneck! I'm just going to pretend it's a female red-backed shrike with a funny bill. More stunning work, love the black-throated divers, have only ever seen one, in winter plumage and would kill to see them like that. Love the willow warbler, is that a rubber you've used to do the background? I used to do that a lot, then forgot to do it, must remember to start doing it again. Those eiders are very special, I'm glad you resisted temptation to fill them in, they show great economic use of strong line. Redwing, simply stunning (must find another synonym), and the wryneck, grrrrrr!
 
They're all terrific and those eiders are fabulous just as they are. Sounds like you had a great week and I'm looking forward to seeing the full story.

Woody
 
Love the willow warbler, is that a rubber you've used to do the background? I used to do that a lot, then forgot to do it, must remember to start doing it again.

Often use the eraser in this way, saves a lot of time. Great for highlights on water too...





and the wryneck, grrrrrr!

...it was just there!!
 
Hi all, blog is now up to date, took a while, but there is a more thorough account of my week there along with photos and a nice videograb too.
 
I've been back to these drawings about 5 times now. Firstly I couldn't make a comment because I was just too intent on looking - you manage to bring the actual experience of 'bird watching' to me, the viewer. Bravo!
But with regard to the drawings, - the whinchat field studies and sketches, as Nick points out, are what the artist's sketchbook should be about (were we as gifted as the one in question!) - and the skuas are spot-on (favs of mine too). Your colour studies beautifully span the divide between 'field work' and finished work' and the eider line drawings are sublime. - as for the wryneck . . . can't comment - never seen one . . . . but it convinces me of your experience, which is almost as good, as far as I'm concerned.
A short time in your life spent doing a good thing - resulting in a group of investigative and expressive artwork. An absolute delight! (thanks!)
 
Thanks for the kind remarks all, glad the sketches seem to have been enjoyed for what they are. Will be doing some watercolurs in the coming weeks based on these sketches.
...thoughts are currently returning to Black Throated Diver after seing 5 birds together this morning, wonderful site, thinking of a large piece for this group portrait. Also keen on Slavonian Grebe which I am going for in the morning and another canvas in mind of Common gull pair on rocks. Will post the progress eventually!
 
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