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Mike's conservatory (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Woody
- Start date
phil baber
Clipped Wing
Little Owl and Partridges are a dream come true. I love these!
Woody
Well-known member
My sketchbook's been gathering dust for some reason so I wiped off the cobwebs and took it out for a spin over to Elmley early on Sunday. Despite persistent rain there were a few bits to see as always. Whenever it's raining on the reserve I check the rafters of the barn at the entrance, it's here that the barn owl often takes shelter and it's lovely to see him peering out of the gloom.
Way off in the distance I saw a peregrine perched on the strengtheners of a couple of telegraph poles. A convenient perch for her but too far off for me to get any decent views. Lapwings like the rain, it softens the soil and makes worm hunting easier.
It's a regular thing that the flocks of lapwings and starlings lift from the ground with the presence of a bird of prey, very often a marsh harrier or, occasionally if I'm lucky, a hen harrier like the one I spotted this week. The marsh harriers though are more reliable and I got to put in a couple of sketches.
On the farm by the car park there's a feeder station maintained by the warden and a pheasant often feeds around the base of it. He went in the book as practise.
As is often the case I didn't have long so I didn't go out to the hides but headed back down the track after a brief pit stop. Mammals are always a bit of a challenge for me but I couldn't resist this hare who was quite happy to carry on with his morning ablutions just as though nobody was watching.
Mike
Way off in the distance I saw a peregrine perched on the strengtheners of a couple of telegraph poles. A convenient perch for her but too far off for me to get any decent views. Lapwings like the rain, it softens the soil and makes worm hunting easier.
It's a regular thing that the flocks of lapwings and starlings lift from the ground with the presence of a bird of prey, very often a marsh harrier or, occasionally if I'm lucky, a hen harrier like the one I spotted this week. The marsh harriers though are more reliable and I got to put in a couple of sketches.
On the farm by the car park there's a feeder station maintained by the warden and a pheasant often feeds around the base of it. He went in the book as practise.
As is often the case I didn't have long so I didn't go out to the hides but headed back down the track after a brief pit stop. Mammals are always a bit of a challenge for me but I couldn't resist this hare who was quite happy to carry on with his morning ablutions just as though nobody was watching.
Mike
Attachments
mattybohan
Well-known member
Great work. I missed the partridges...very nice indeed.
solitaryVSong
Well-known member
The pages of your dusty sketchbook are always a treat Mike. I particularly like the hares. I know what you mean about mammals being a challenge. However yours never LOOK like they were a challenge!
Rahul Parekh
Well-known member
Beautiful compositions Mike. Excellent work. Loved the lighting in your paintings 
. Your Sketch book is very impressive too .
All best wishes,
Cheers, Rahul
. Your Sketch book is very impressive too .All best wishes,
Cheers, Rahul
phil baber
Clipped Wing
Oh! These are lovely!
mattybohan
Well-known member
a lively group of sketches!
mark richards
Well-known member
fantastic stuff mate...mark
solitaryVSong
Well-known member
This is a real beauty Mike. Strong composition but especially the color and light are very striking. It's a beauty as is and I'm sure will be even more so in a more finished work. I just love this one!
timwootton
Well-known member
terrific piece mate - tip top!
mark richards
Well-known member
thats fantastic mate.....mark.
Woody
Well-known member
Since there are plenty of clouds about at the moment, I thought I'd paint some!
I might take a leaf out of Colleen's book and try a whole bunch of cloudscapes, maybe not 100, I don't think I've got the same level of dedication as Colleen!
I'm now going to attempt painting under artificial light, I hate these grey winter days that end almost before they start...
Mike
Approx 10"x12" on canvas btw
I might take a leaf out of Colleen's book and try a whole bunch of cloudscapes, maybe not 100, I don't think I've got the same level of dedication as Colleen!
I'm now going to attempt painting under artificial light, I hate these grey winter days that end almost before they start...
Mike
Approx 10"x12" on canvas btw
Attachments
Last edited:
timwootton
Well-known member
Great idea, mate - and what a start!!! Beautiful piece - again!
