[colleenc]

my internet is very sporatic these days...lost me in digi land but love the smew

[ed keeble]

well hello all - how nice to hear from you all (and commiserations to those enduring computer trouble)

currently doing a digi makeover as little side-project- logo for SOG the Suffolk Ornithologists Group I first painted waaaay in the late 1970s, now only surviving in the first attached version that looks to have been copied recopied and drawn over in someone else's hand

certainly no digi back then and reference material was a precious thing, to be hoarded like a precious metal

[Bigshent]

Now them are very SMART Ed

[nickderry]

congratulations on the 100,000 views! I have to admit that a good deal of them are from me! An ideal time to remind you what an inspiration your work is to me, from bristly brushes to graphics tablets (philistine!) and sculpture with a helping hand (or sometimes not so helpful) from Mr Black and Decker - keep up the good work!

(what's the poor unfortunate prey item? young moorhen?)

[ed keeble]

Originally Posted by nickderry

congratulations on the 100,000 views! I have to admit that a good deal of them are from me! An ideal time to remind you what an inspiration your work is to me, from bristly brushes to graphics tablets (philistine!) and sculpture with a helping hand (or sometimes not so helpful) from Mr Black and Decker - keep up the good work!

(what's the poor unfortunate prey item? young moorhen?)

that really is too kind-

as for the prey item, I think a mixture of moorhen, coot and incy wincy spider

[solitaryVSong]

Originally Posted by ed keeble

that really is too kind-

as for the prey item, I think a mixture of moorhen, coot and incy wincy spider

Late contratulations too from here on 100,000 views, wihich are now long past. I do really like the prey item, whatever its source, leaving the page. Hope it's enjoyed by many.

Thank you for sharing your artwork. Very inspirational and creative.

Jade

[buzzard12]

Congrats on 100,000 Ed and what a wonderfully creative piece with the Marsh Harrier food drop, love it!

[Nick Sinden]

The SOG logo is a classic...nicely spruced up!

[ARTHUR BISHOP]

caught up at last Ed. lost on 3D but a cracking smew

[JTMB]

The logo looks great, but my preference is for the kinda sorta spider thingie!

[ed keeble]

Originally Posted by ARTHUR BISHOP

caught up at last Ed. lost on 3D but a cracking smew

time to stop fiddling around with these 3D things when there's paintings to be done

I need one more shot at a Smew painting to get them fully out of my system before spring is jangling away and can no longer be ignored

so one last shot to try and capture the sleek bustle and fizz when they wake up and slide into the margins to hunt

early days on this one- I still can't bring myself to slow-down and draw the birds in when I start, so this time thought I would try a first shot at at background, then crayon in the birds roughly to see what was happening, then paint on top, which looks like it might have to wait until one evening this week

[nickderry]

I'd say just block the birds in a little more where they're translucent, and then leave well alone - this is already a gorgeous piece. I don't think I've ever seen such successful choppy water at the reeds' edge.

[timwootton]

It is, as Nick points out, all but complete. And very gorgeous indeed - exquisite.

[solitaryVSong]

Originally Posted by timwootton

It is, as Nick points out, all but complete. And very gorgeous indeed - exquisite.

Not much more to say than to quote Tim and Nick. Leave well enough alone when it already looks this good. But I also the difficulty of wanting to take the painting where you think you want it to go just when others are saying it is already there.

[ed keeble]

seems more of week to admire the work of others on the forum

but the little splash of water I check every morning on the way to work has produced the hoped-for Garganey: here's a very quick whap at it, just to chalk up the whitestripe

[Lykos]

a lot of great thinks ,I will find here

[timwootton]

Sometimes all that's needed is the bird smack inthe centre - this one is it. A celebration of the drake garganey - lovely. Reminds me a bit of the old Vertigo record label . . .

[nickderry]

exactly as they should be - and often how I see them! Understated, simple and true.

[solitaryVSong]

Originally Posted by nickderry

exactly as they should be - and often how I see them! Understated, simple and true.

I've never seen one in the field but nonetheless this picture has that feeling of being simple and true. All that needs to be said, simply said. And in your own style as well.

[ed keeble]

Originally Posted by ed keeble

I need one more shot at a Smew painting to get them fully out of my system before spring is jangling away and can no longer be ignored

enough with the Smew for this winter- I've got some of what I was after in this

although plans for a little flotilla of four birds nicely balanced with each equally prominent have evaporated and I've allowed the centre male a bit of privilege and priority

onto Garganey now- more thinking than doing this weekend: I spent half an hour this morning with him snorkelling busily in open water- lovely views for a birder, but all the time imploring him to stop feeding and get somewhere visually interesting, the greedy devil..

[Bigshent]

Ed the Gargarney is out of this world very lively

[timwootton]

Originally Posted by ed keeble

enough with the Smew for this winter- I've got some of what I was after in this
..

Absolutely!! - Beauty.

[solitaryVSong]

Originally Posted by timwootton

Absolutely!! - Beauty.

Sorry I forgot to say the same thing in a more timely manner!

[colonelboris]

Nice Smew you have there! Saw one a few weeks after starting birding and didn't see another for four years...