From the sketchbook... (1 Viewer)

[nickderry]

hooray, for once you're posting things that I've been sketching these past few weeks, so I don't need to put envy aside to make a proper comment, apart from the fact I'm jealous as hell of your drawing technique. To be able to combine such accuracy with life is a true gift, again, a pleasure to see.

 

[buzzard12]

Aaaargh! Just heard the Broad Billed has turned up after being absent all morning!!!

 

[nickderry]

Aaaargh! Just heard the Broad Billed has turned up after being absent all morning!!!

ouch!

 

[buzzard12]

ouch!

It's been 18 years since I saw my first and last Broad Bill! I've deliberatly not twitched one here in the hope of finding my own one, though they are rather scarce around Stockholm. Thought to myself an early visit was the best option, though bird may be there in the evenings only, as it was seen from about 3pm yesterday. Oh Well, am free tomorrow from 3pm, another trip will have to be made...

 

[timwootton]

Perfect drawings. Sorry about the bbs, bit of a bggr. But what you were left with has been turned into some divine art - just lovely.
Just a note on 'finding' birds - I did a painting of starlings, lapwings and GPs last year and wanted a few more starling poses to finish off the comp. Could I hell-as-like find one!!!!! There were usually up to 500 in my b100dy field - not one. I guess the moral is; draw what's there, when it's there, cos one day it may not be.
Getting to 'squeaky-bum' time - eeek!

 

[buzzard12]

Perfect drawings. Sorry about the bbs, bit of a bggr. But what you were left with has been turned into some divine art - just lovely.
Just a note on 'finding' birds - I did a painting of starlings, lapwings and GPs last year and wanted a few more starling poses to finish off the comp. Could I hell-as-like find one!!!!! There were usually up to 500 in my b100dy field - not one. I guess the moral is; draw what's there, when it's there, cos one day it may not be.
Getting to 'squeaky-bum' time - eeek!

And a fine painting it turned out too Tim!

Can very much relate to what you are saying. I am more guilty than most of birding my way past the commoner species, not stopping to sketch as I should a Whinchat or Sedge Warbler, instead moving on in the hope of a "better" bird! I tend to do this a lot in May and Sept/October and tell myself I can catch up with the commoner ones during the quieter summer months, though often I never do as I cant find them as easily then, for whatever reason! The only answer is of course obvious, give up working and spend three more times the hours in the field....

PS; Enjoy the game, and fingers crossed. Liable to have a good hangover in the morning!

 

[timwootton]

PS; Enjoy the game, and fingers crossed. Liable to have a good hangover in the morning!

I intend to start work on mine within the next half hour - just as soon as the kiddies' mummy arrives back from work

 

[Woody]

Lovin' the fieldwork as always Alan. You have a fabulously 'complete' way of drawing (that probably only makes sense to me!).

Is there some footie on or something?...

Mike

 

[birdpotter]

I like that Mike, a 'complete' way of drawing. I think that's it.
Really lovely work, Alan.
I'll come back for more!

Best
Beth

 

[timwootton]

Ha - just spent valuable sleepin' time viewing your back catalogue. What a talent!
http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=83502&d=1178536276
for a start!!!!
I suppose you will claim credit for telling Van DerSar which way to bounce????
G'night

 

[jomo]

Big blocky head patterns, mmm! There's always so much expression to the eyes of your birds, too. I've thought of your sketches many a time while pencilling in the dark little eyes of songbirds -- I'm apt to give them all the same round, beady look, which doesn't do much for adding character.

 

[buzzard12]

Quick excursion to Sandemar before work this evening. Left the camera behind this time in order to focus on some sketching. Rosefinch the best bird, with nice views of a Cuckoo, my first viewable bird this year. Typically with the camera at home a Thrush Nightingale sang in full view! They just don't do that when you have a camera in the rucksack! Male Garganey still present, though the Broad Billed Sandpiper has moved on. Sure I heard a brief snatch of Golden Oriole song in the distance, a very scarce bird here, so will try early in the morning on monday again for that one....

 

[buzzard12]

Apolgies to anyone with fond seventies memories of Bob Ross and his show, but had to stick it in here! Humour is a little rough, so if your easily offended dont watch....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKcMfQrqC7I


Mr Bean does a spot of painting on here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnkzHNM_tRA&feature=related

 

[nickderry]

great great sketches, the cuckoo is a wonderful half saggy half solid mass, just as they are in real life - the rosefinch, amazing, despite never having seen one (our extralimital population in Franche-comté went the same way as the British breeders) I could tell it was one off the thumbnail - Garganey - shape spot on, not like any other duck in the world. Excellent!

 

[buzzard12]

great great sketches, the cuckoo is a wonderful half saggy half solid mass, just as they are in real life - the rosefinch, amazing, despite never having seen one (our extralimital population in Franche-comté went the same way as the British breeders) I could tell it was one off the thumbnail - Garganey - shape spot on, not like any other duck in the world. Excellent!

Cuckoo really are a bit of a mess perched. Could be the small feet, or the weight of the wings which always seem to sag. Thought the one today might fall off the fence at one point. Perhaps they drink heavily....

 

[birdpotter]

Apolgies to anyone with fond seventies memories of Bob Ross and his show, but had to stick it in here! Humour is a little rough, so if your easily offended dont watch....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKcMfQrqC7I


Mr Bean does a spot of painting on here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnkzHNM_tRA&feature=related

A very good start for a Sunday morning for me!

 

[Andrew H]

All great stuff, Ive got a long way to go yet

 

[Woody]

Wonderful work Alan. I'm very fond of gargany, they're not all that common round here. I caught a brief sighting on sunday though so thanks for the reminder.

Mike

 

[buzzard12]

After a long absence, finally got out in the field. Location was Tyresö Strand, birds on show and sketched were Little Ringed Plovers, Black Throated Diver pair, a chick which I am fairly sure is a Ringed Plover(both species present though judged it as ringed on the bill depth, though might be wrong!) Also a Willow Warbler Sketch that I am happy with....
Have managed to get off for the Euro final and am off now for my first bevvie in two weeks! Bottoms up to you all and good luck to the Spanish! Just hope they dont bottle it!

 

[timwootton]

What a return to the Forum! I note a slightly less 'involved' feel to these drawings, and perhaps they even benefit from that somewhat - the way you have handled the legs and feet on the lrp and ww drawings is thoroughly examplarary - not a line too many, yet perfectly described - brilliant. The chick is just a very lovely study of a very lovely creature (Can't comment on whether lrp or rp) and the divers are a bit of a forte of yours, so no surprise to see this drawing as well crafted as it is.