Ed's thread (1 Viewer)

[timwootton]

I think they drape behind, Ed. I'm sure in Ken's photo link the creature is just taking off - hence its spread legs (as it would be at rest).
One simple way to get the authoratitive answer is to paint them as you imagine them - some 'expert' will soon crawl out of the woodwork and tell you you've got it wrong!!!!!

 

[Strandman]

I think they drape behind, Ed. I'm sure in Ken's photo link the creature is just taking off - hence its spread legs (as it would be at rest).
One simple way to get the authoratitive answer is to paint them as you imagine them - some 'expert' will soon crawl out of the woodwork and tell you you've got it wrong!!!!!

Thank-you all- drapey behind legs it has to be. Now with hopefully just enough blurry hill and tower block and wet bit to evoke rural Korea.

 

[Strandman]

While I am it- I did manage to sneak out at weekend and lug 'scope with me: curiously thru naked eye the local Brents seemed to have been allocated a giant barcode (crop from long range photo) but through scope it turned out to be waders and posts- so the Turnstone on the left got sketched.

 

[colleenc]

love the barcode! what a great painting it would be...never thought about mosquito legs till you Ed.

 

[timwootton]

Superb colourwork Ed - very impressive indeed.
Got to agree about the potential with the barcode - great idea and these turnstones have a wonderful fluidity of line. Beautiful.

 

[ChrissyM]

Gosh, the barcode looks looks like a bird version of stonehenge!
The swallow complete with drapey legged mosquito is superb

 

[solitaryVSong]

Very nice sketches Ed! And as everyone else has said it sure looks like there is a painting in that barcode.

 

[nickderry]

lots to see here - I really think the barcode needs to be developed fully - it's already a wonderful image.

 

[Strandman]

Hello all- I had hoped to have a Great Northern Diver painting to show for my weekend but for the millionth time I fell into the trap of drawing an inbetweeny one- neither fully alert nor puffed up and high in the water, neither side on nor clearly at an angle...

So painting is on hold, but as my punishment for lack of discipline I cranked up the computah and tried to work a few things out as per attached- same bird going from alert and alarmed to gently kipping. Eyesize (actual and apparent) is a topic in its own right on these beasties. I think the answer is that it looks beady and small when overlapped by sleepy lids, but bigger (or bigger looking) when alert, wide-open and with feathers compressed.

 

[Woody]

I'd love to have the opportunity to see divers long enough to start picking up details like these. Luckily you've got the info down for future reference, nice work.

Mike

 

[Strandman]

Hello all- another shot at a GND. I set myself the stern objective of keeping it late afternoon backlit and not succumbing to temptation to give it red eye, white eyering, gleaming bill....

 

[rockfowl]

That's great Ed, the waters fab and the essence of being watched, gouache/mixed
?

 

[timwootton]

Love it - for me, perhaps one of the most characteristic features of Gnd (the eye-shape) is depicted expertly. Clear how much these battleships mean to you - a lot of love in this one, and it's splendid.

 

[Woody]

There you go again with that exuberant and effective use of colour. Top work.

Mike

 

[solitaryVSong]

I have to agree with everything that's already been said.

And I'd add this. If you told me someone was going to make a full rich painting out of one bird sitting in water in the middle of the page I would have doubted it. Maybe a sketch but not a painting. Your eye would just go to the center of the painting and then heave nowhere else to go. But this one has enough interest in the water itself, and the bird is a bit hidden in it, so that your eye, or at least my eye, keeps moving around the entire painting.

 

[Strandman]

What kind and appreciative chaps you all are- losing bill and body and focussing on the the old shark-eye was exactly the plan.

Mark- in answer to your question, its done in "interactive" acrylics. I was put onto them by Mouldy on here and am much indebted to him- I'm finding them much more forgiving and flexible in my hands than straight quick drying acrylics.

Woody- there's been a nice and amenable adult GND in the dyke at Reculver last few days, if you are having any Kentish outings at the w/e.

 

[birdboybowley]

Nice eye Ed! BTW what make of acrylics are ya using....might give 'em a go

Ads

 

[Strandman]

Nice eye Ed! BTW what make of acrylics are ya using....might give 'em a go

Ads

Its these chaps here- you get about a day of blendy workability [at least on CANVAS] before they dry, which just happens to suit me and if you really jab at them with a bristly brush and some medium, you can wake them up a bit even a few days later... but I'm not sure how they behave on other surfaces.

http://www.saa.co.uk/artmaterials/atelier-interactive-acrylic-paints-2399.html

Here's the thread where I first saw them outed:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=131600&highlight=interactive+acrylics

 

[birdboybowley]

Excellent Ed, ta

Ha, just seen that i posted on that thread too...in one ear, out the other....!

 

[Woody]

Woody- there's been a nice and amenable adult GND in the dyke at Reculver last few days, if you are having any Kentish outings at the w/e.

Would that I had the time Ed! With Christmas fast approaching 'The Overseer' seems able to find endless shops that simply have to be explored and someone has to go along to nod in the right places and carry the bags!

Mike