Welcome to Nick's dining room table. (1 Viewer)

[nickderry]

Just got back from a very early trip to Osselle, woke up this morning at half five, couldn't get back to sleep so jumped in the car and went. So glad I did, I managed to add 4 new species to my site list - Snipe, Hen Harrier, Alpine Swift and Water Pipit and Spring is definitely back with all 3 common hirrundines, LRPs, Black Kite, Black Redstarts, and well just loads of things. So much to see, didn't sketch a huge amount but we've got the Snipe (I've missed these birds!!!) Some Alpine Swifts around a pylon, and some Black Redstarts saying hello to my darling Zippy Bernadette.
Also got a drunk/hungover painting from the last few days, title - 'P***ing it down at Slimbridge!' In different lights.

 

[Andrew H]

wow, love the snipe and 'Slimbridge' paintings......

 

[jomo]

Absolutely fantastic snipe sketches, and brilliant job on the elements in the Slimbridge piece.

 

[Woody]

Love the snipe! They are so much more 'snipey' than anything I seem to manage. Your curlew too look suitably impressed with the weather, superb stuff as always.

Mike

 

[Strandman]

Fantastic- especial favourite is the bright light on the Shelduck.

 

[timwootton]

There really is something hauntingly beautiful about pools of bright light percolating through rain - this Slimbridge painting has the lot. It's just a fecking gorgeous painting, dripping with atmosphere and first rate observation.
I do love it so.

 

[buzzard12]

A real birders painting. It's brilliant. Pissing rain, out getting soaked while the birds carry on regardless. (Mr. Derry tucked away in a hide getting a true to life gem of a scene down on paper.)

 

[nickderry]

thanks everyone, so it seems the slimbridge pic is quite popular, and whilst not denying there are things in it that have turned out surprisingly well - be honest now - it IS enormously over painted and dirty - there are the remains of two badly placed curlew behind all that paint!

then again, it really was a very dirty day!

 

[birdboybowley]

...then again, it really was a very dirty day!

They're always the best kind Nick!!

 

[timwootton]

They're always the best kind Nick!!

In the words of the great Meat - 'Ya took the words right outta my mouth . . .'

 

[Woody]

Trust you two to lower the tone! (But I was thinking it!)

Mike

 

[nickderry]

the stonechat was a lot of work - days and days of changing ideas and colours, the snipe were done in an hour or two - and is a WATERCOLOUR! OMG!:eek!:

 

[Woody]

It's a gloriously wet and liquid watercolour too, the way the pigments have mixed and swirled in the shadow areas of the belly is delicious. Any bird goes well with a bit of rusty wire Nick! lovely little stoney that was well worth the effort.

Mike

 

[joannec]

Love the snipe Nick. Had a look at your website....nice work:t:. Good luck with the exhibition.

Joanne

 

[jomo]

Ooh, love the textures and the limited palette of the stonechat.

 

[nickderry]

very frustrating painting at the moment, I'm giving up smoking, and the studio was also the smoking room! Here are some more waxwings from over xmas.

 

[Woody]

That's stunning Nick. Like a mosaic, a riot of small rectangles and squares to describe the delicious rounded, warm peach of the waxwings. Sometimes you take my breath away.

On the subject of taking your breath away, best of luck with the smoking quit. I did it years ago and my best tip is: When you feel yourself weakening ask yourself; 'Will it kill me if I become a non-smoker?' The answer is, no. Then ask yourself; 'Will it kill me if I carry on as a smoker?' The answer is, probably. It worked for me and I hope it might help you. Stay strong.

Mike

 

[timwootton]

Gorgeous painting Nick - so much said with such deftness - love it. And a belated round of applause for the stonechat (superb sense of scale, terrific design) and the pure class of the watercolour snipe.
Stopping smoking, eh? Just to echo Mike's support and a typically dour rcollection from my own past; I stopped for seven and a half years and it took me one ciggie to start again - a further 11 years as a smoker ensued and I finally stopped (!?! _ I hope) three years ago, March 2nd.
You'll never be a non-smoker again Nick - but being a stopped smoker is the next best thing. Good luck.

 

[EliS]

Stonechat. Love it. Wonderful colors, beautiful composition. And a chat, I love chats.

And on stopping smoking: You can do it!

Elina

 

[jomo]

Stay strong, Nick!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWQgktBR6-w