From the sketchbook... (1 Viewer)

[timwootton]

It's superb alan - and well done for not overworking it. The composition is dynamic yet still has the placidity of the woodsand as a focus. The whole scene is as natural as nature intended and could be straight out of your sketchbook - and I can't praise it higher than that!
Great piece - what's the next one??????

 

[nickderry]

The piece works beautifully as a whole, and also as two individual pictures. Those curlew sands make a very strong composition on their own, lots to keep the eye interested (and to make me jealous - the last Curlew Sand I saw was way back in 2000 - hmm there seems to be a theme with your pictures lol!) Great stuff and looking forward to the next one.

 

[buzzard12]

Thanks for the kind comments guys.

As to whats next, I am off tomorrow and plan a full day out to either Angarn or Sandemar Reserve to see what the day brings. Waders will be a big draw.(pardon the pun!) Both sites have had Broad Billed Sand and Red necked Phalarope over the last fortnight which would interest me. Bluethroats are passing through the area at the moment too and am keen to get a colour piece done on them also. Always the chance of a suprise at this time of the year.
Am going to try paint a bit more over the coming months.May try a few watercolours as it has been a long time since I used the medium. These canvases take a while!
Have been working a lot over the summer months and am itching to get out over the autumn before it all disapears and the snow starts. Still have 20 days paid holidays to take and may plan a trip abroad this winter..

 

[deborah4]

A beautiful painting Alan - it has a lovely 'atmosphere' about it and the Sands and Wood have so much 'presence' (An old Art teacher said that about some pigs I painted once and had no idea what she meant, but now I know!), they're just alive and as Tim said, seem totally 'at ease' in the environment - credit to you!
The colours work for me too, lovely fresh Autumn feel about the piece (subjective maybe) - Saw some Curlew Sands on Saturday, but beginning to loose those lovely rusty breasts now

 

[buzzard12]

Angarn today. Quite a lot around and fell into the trap of birding too much and neglected to sketch as much as I should, always moving on for the next, better bird. A little annoyed with myself to be honest!.
Bluethroat did stop me though. Four of these seen today, a couple of which were obliging with patience..
Black Throated Divers from Tyresö Slott yesterday. Drawn through binoculars while fishing. Quick sketch but I do like it. Reminding me to get back to that canvas I have planned for three months now..


Edit; Just noticed something, the second bluethroat sketch is somehow not quite right! May have a little fun and see if the more keen eyed can see anything amiss

 

[nickderry]

I'm sure you choose the birds you get to see deliberately just to p*ss me off! Cracking bluethroat (still yet to see one, I wonder if I doctored a redstart sketch would it fool anyone?!)

Those divers should be put straight in a frame and applauded publicly. They are exactly what I try to sketch. VERY VERY good!! (Capitals and exclamation mark necessary!)

 

[buzzard12]

I'm sure you choose the birds you get to see deliberately just to p*ss me off! Cracking bluethroat (still yet to see one, I wonder if I doctored a redstart sketch would it fool anyone?!)

Those divers should be put straight in a frame and applauded publicly. They are exactly what I try to sketch. VERY VERY good!! (Capitals and exclamation mark necessary!)

No ****ing off intended! Pretty good passage here at the minute of Bluethroat, will continue for two weeks or so, then they are gone. Perhaps one will come your way this fall...
Black Throats are just a special bird, lucky to have them on my doorstep...

 

[deborah4]

Those divers should be put straight in a frame and applauded publicly. They are exactly what I try to sketch. VERY VERY good!! (Capitals and exclamation mark necessary!)

Agree! And to boot, a ready made composition just waiting .......

 

[timwootton]

Tremendous group of studies- the bluethroat is spot on from my vast experience of, er, one! The divers on the other hand I have a bit of experiance with, these are sublime drawings - no need for canvas - just a frame. Formidable!

 

[Andrew Ellis]

Its the divers forme too Alan. Your economy of line is breathtaking.
go on though do the canvas though i want too see that!
and It wont take anything away from that sketch

 

[Woody]

I'm having a hard time catching up after a fortnight of hols. I'm loving the divers too so I'll second what Andy said, let's see the canvas too!
The curly/wood sand pic is a beauty too!

Woody

 

[buzzard12]

Sorry to do this to Nick Derry but Bluethroats everywhere at the minute...
Took this videograb yesterday on the A95 of this lovely female and thought I would put it on here. Sketches to follow after I get back from a fishing trip over the next few days...

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=2175759869072001005&hl=en-GB

 

[nickderry]

You just don't know when to stop do you! LOL, it's just a funny sedge warbler. I may still catch up with one before they all go!

 

[timwootton]

Oooooooh - WOW! Superb piece of work Alan - fabulous little bird and really excellent vid - well done! - What hardware do you use to get such a superb image?

 

[buzzard12]

Oooooooh - WOW! Superb piece of work Alan - fabulous little bird and really excellent vid - well done! - What hardware do you use to get such a superb image?

Its just a now "out of date" Canon A95 camera on video mode. adaptor joins it to the leica, point it, focus and voila. Suprisingly good quality, great for grabbing reference videograbs...

 

[Zac Hinchcliffe]

I love Bluethroat, I would say definatley in my top 5! I live of the West coast on England in Lancashire. Lancashire has not even had the amount of Blue's that the East Coast gets in a single Autumn ever...I have never seen one.
I am very envious, but luckily with the video and the sketches, you can easily share them with us less fortunate people! top marks:t:

 

[buzzard12]

Just back after a week on holidays, was entertaining my brother who is not a birder and some friends from Dublin, so didnt get a lot of birding done while travelling around the north of Sweden. (did have several good birds, best were 5 Nutcracker and several flocks of Parrot Crossbill.)
Still have a few days left on my holidays so plan a trip to try see Eagle Owl tomorrow, one bird elusive but present at a site south of Stockholm on two evenings this week.
Got to Årstfältet today where Bluethroats still present, at least 4 today, two of which were males. Some sketches here...females first...

 

[buzzard12]

Then the males and a rough compositional idea...

 

[buzzard12]

The few sketches I got of Nutcracker, birds did not hang around long...

Also couple of very quick Parrot Crossbills sketches.

 

[ARTHUR BISHOP]

Nice sketches Alan look forward to one painted up