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Mike's conservatory (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Woody
- Start date
spizaetos
Well-known member
Congratulations Mike!
I have no problem at all with the Harris hawk, believe me!
I belong also to the majority of the artists who are forced to draw subjects
they actually don't' really like, to be able to pay their bills!
Although in your case, your subject was a raptor, which I'm sure you particularly enjoyed!
By the way, your sparrow and peregrine sketches are spot on!
Paschalis
I have no problem at all with the Harris hawk, believe me!
I belong also to the majority of the artists who are forced to draw subjects
they actually don't' really like, to be able to pay their bills!
Although in your case, your subject was a raptor, which I'm sure you particularly enjoyed!
By the way, your sparrow and peregrine sketches are spot on!
Paschalis
ARTHUR BISHOP
Well-known member
Congrats Mike, lovely work.
timwootton
Well-known member
Great news mate! The paintings are utterly fab. too - can you seek the other one out and post it?
Woody
Well-known member
The third one was the pheasant commission, the gallery got the payment this week so at least I know the client was happy.
I particularly like Harris' hawks and feel they are often written off by artists in favour of more glamorous birds like the gos or peregrine. Anyway I love painting leather!
Mike
I particularly like Harris' hawks and feel they are often written off by artists in favour of more glamorous birds like the gos or peregrine. Anyway I love painting leather!
Mike
nickderry
C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.
You know I'd be lying if I said the Harris appealed to me, but that doesn't alter the fact that it is masterfully painted and a wonderfully alive bird. The peregrines on the other hand have enormous appeal, interesting composition and excellent use of a restricted pallette - both winners, just one not my cup of tea (though it doesn't upset me of course!).
Woody
Well-known member
Fair 'nuff Nick! Straight portraits of falconry birds are pretty specific in their appeal so some are bound to like it more than others and falconry is almost guaranteed to divide opinion on this forum. I've done lots of similar pieces and they've always proved popular in the market for which they are intended.
Glad you mentioned the limited pallette on the peregrines, I was trying to 'hide' the lower bird a bit with colour and composition.
Mike
Glad you mentioned the limited pallette on the peregrines, I was trying to 'hide' the lower bird a bit with colour and composition.
Mike
nickderry
C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.
You hid it perfectly, it was only when I opened up the thumbnail that I noticed it was there - very clever.
timwootton
Well-known member
Absolutely - couldn't agree more. I thought the use of the continuous 'shadow' was a real stroke of genius.
Woody
Well-known member
Once again the weather let us down this weekend; Grey, rainy and windy. We parked up and waited to see if the sun would manage any kind of display but the rain and cloud watered down its valiant effort to a thin lightbulb effect. Whist the coots acted beligerently and the lapwings peewitted for all they were worth, a marsh harrier passed overhead, calling and displaying. Seconds behind came another, this time high in the sky, behaving for all the world like a buzzard. It looked like she was struggling against the wind to maintain her direction. It's a good time of year for Elmley, the wheatears are back! Spotted a pair, wonderful spring plumaged male and his elegant mate. The male seemed happy to sit on his little lump of mud whilst the female busied herself amongst the grass. Similar to a sunday at my house really! When he did finally move off we made our way to the car park toilets for a pit stop, past the resident kestrel sitting in her bush by the road. We stopped long enough to watch her plunge to the grass and dispatch a worm. The little owl was sitting at the entrance to his box but soon ducked back inside as the rain got heavier, it seems as though the other box will be occupied by stock doves this year. A brief wander down the path through the orchard revealed lots of chaffinches, house sparrows, greenfinches, goldfinches and a chiffchaff calling out the spring despite the weather. Time was limited this week but there was time to relocate the wheatear on the way home. Now we wait for the yellow wags, swallows, martins and the hobbies to return...
My birding buddy Andy sneakily took a couple of pics of my sketchbook on sunday!
Mike
My birding buddy Andy sneakily took a couple of pics of my sketchbook on sunday!
Mike
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Woody
Well-known member
The weekend conservatory project was a wren painting. I've wanted to paint a wren in a landscape for a while now and the idea of contrasting the sprite like wren with the heavyness of a stone wall applealed. I love the way these little birds live amongst the tumbled stones, treating them as some vast castle that man has constructed especially for thieir use.
Mike
Mike
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timwootton
Well-known member
Beautiful fieldwork, Mike - the centre wheatear is a stonker! Sorry about the weather - we've had near-Mediterranean conditions up here - makes a nice change. This latest painting is a thing of real beauty. All your familiarity with, and knowledge of the speciaes and its habitat is glaringly obvious. Love it very much.
nickderry
C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.
superb fieldwork - yes that wheatear is stunning, and the little owl is as excellent as we expect from you.
Now, this Wren, f*in' marvellous! Wonderful juxtaposition of such a small bird in its huge habitat, I love the way that such a small light thing is played against the huge tree, and the huge heavy sky. Yet it still retains a great presence - wonderful!
Now, this Wren, f*in' marvellous! Wonderful juxtaposition of such a small bird in its huge habitat, I love the way that such a small light thing is played against the huge tree, and the huge heavy sky. Yet it still retains a great presence - wonderful!
Andrew H
Well-known member
I agree with the comments regarding the wren.....Great picture from the woody house, But i am a little concerned about the pigeon sketch, where did you get the inspiration from and how long did it model for before moving off exactly......never seen one of those in my 'big book o birds'
birdpotter
Well-known member
Well, Mike, Tim and Nick have said it all. That middle wheateater is my fav too. And you have made that little delicate wren look like a master over his landscape. You've implied his attitude perfectly.
buzzard12
Well-known member
hi Mike,
Sorry have not dropped in here for a bit, it's been my loss! The Wren and Landscape is really lovely, really intimate little painting, top class stuff. Your Wheatear studies are wonderful too, particularily the middle bird as rightly mentioned by so many others.
Will save the highest praise for last though, that is for the peregrine pair. A truly outstanding painting, in my opinion one of the finest I have seen posted here on the forum....
Sorry have not dropped in here for a bit, it's been my loss! The Wren and Landscape is really lovely, really intimate little painting, top class stuff. Your Wheatear studies are wonderful too, particularily the middle bird as rightly mentioned by so many others.
Will save the highest praise for last though, that is for the peregrine pair. A truly outstanding painting, in my opinion one of the finest I have seen posted here on the forum....
Steve Kershaw
Well-known member
Love the sketches and the narrative Mike! The Wren is fantastic! Look forward to seeing more in the gallery! Best wishes from Steve.
ARTHUR BISHOP
Well-known member
Love the sketches Mike. The Wren is a cracker, what a presence for a little fellow.
Woody
Well-known member
Thanks everyone! I am quite pleased with the wren, I don't find landscapes easy so it's nice to challenge myself every now and again. I have found, with a return to my more detailed style, that the big, blobby brush stuff has had an influence for the good. It just proves that you never stop learning. What to do next? The barn owl or maybe a wheatear....
Mike
Mike
