Untitled... (1 Viewer)

[phil baber]

Basically in 15 years I never finished painting this!

Madame Untitled took some digiscoped shots in Devon, England last October.

Until I can get back sketching, these will have to suffice. Great Bittern, and Hobbys snacking on Dragonflies recently. But I am swimming through mud to get something together. Or draw something at least.:cat:

I wish you all a pleasurable weekend!B

 

[phil baber]

Whale Wharf Swallow Family

Summer recess over. Thought to pick up the brush again.:cat:
This family of Barn Swallows was dutifully photographed, many times, last week near a barn in Gloucestershire, England; and re-composed today in a workout piece for, perhaps, a larger painting.
Some amazing moves they throw when preening. They leave a wing-spread's gap between each other when perching. A bit of shuffling involved sometimes, to get the right distance from the next bird. In this way take-off is unhindered!
I'd always wondered what Swallows on wires were always so neatly and accurately spaced. I thought it was because they didn't like each other too much! But the real reason is much more practical! And it wasn't until I did this piece that I realised this!

It needs a bit of touching up. But the sentiment is there. I'll re-post it when I'm sure it looks better.

I love Swallows so much!

Have been enjoying all your threads! Keep up the great work everyone!

B

 

[colleenc]

pure Phil!
full of life, humor, character, and always fresh....

 

[phil baber]

Thanks Colleen!

Nice to be back!

 

[timwootton]

A lovely piece Phil - and it works as a prelim to another larger painting, no doubt.

 

[username]

Fantastic swallows.....[that's all i have to say]....!

ps...plus icon..:t:

 

[ed keeble]

Super swallows- that little bit of angularity in the outlines really adds something- shows a bit of the character of the drawer as well as of the drawn.

 

[username]

As you like swallows...here's a couple i was watching today....B B

:t:

ps...notice how relaxed these young birds are...they're obviously totally at ease because there are no hobbies about to chase them...:smoke:

 

[solitaryVSong]

Have to agree with what's been said and also have to say I enjoy the movement of the birds. I'm looking forward to see what more you do with it. Speaking of swallows they seem to sometimes be the most joyful of birds, like they're just out there having a good time, revelling in their ability to fly so well.

 

[phil baber]

Have to agree with what's been said and also have to say I enjoy the movement of the birds. I'm looking forward to see what more you do with it. Speaking of swallows they seem to sometimes be the most joyful of birds, like they're just out there having a good time, revelling in their ability to fly so well.

You said it so well.

Am so confused by the surfeit of Hirundines at the moment. The above piece was only a tryout. Obviously, the juvenile faces are too red!

Maybe in the Winter I'll calm down, and re-represent my Summer fledglings...

Nice little photos Mister User!

Ed. The angles are helped by many blurred photo captures. But that is very useful in seeing how they actually move. Even when perched up, these are "hard to sketch" subjects!

I'll get there somehow. Thanks for all your comments!

 

[RussB]

Great piece, Phil. You're right about the shapes they throw when preening on telegraph wires. I was sketching some last week in the same situation and found them utterly engaging creatures. Sad, really, as I only tend to really look at 'em when they just arrive and when they're about to leave.

Russ

 

[phil baber]

Will be back soon with stuff.

Just bumping with a male Pied Wagtail.

Loving your threads! B

 

[colleenc]

you caught him like"moving right along here" wonderful!

 

[phil baber]

It's time to examine "Common" Birds.
I realised that I take them for granted. But can I draw them? Well yes?
But does anyone want to?

This Wagtail is just a "try-out". It is awful.

Next project?

Prunella modularis...

 

[Woody]

Many apologies Phil; I saw the swallows when I got back from my hols and I thought I'd left a comment, obviously not! They're lovely. I was watching them on the farm and thinking that another swallow pic is due then along comes yours and gives me even more incentive by being wonderful.

You're being very hard on the poor little waggy, give the guy a break! He sure ain't 'awful'. I think he's rather sweet and they do make great subjects. As someone who works on the principle that 'there is beauty in the everyday if only we take the time to see it' I'm looking forward to a whole series of 'common as muck' birds from you.

Mike

 

[timwootton]

Fine wag, Phil - look'n forward to the dunny.

 

[RussB]

Well said, Mike and Tim. Pied Wags are a great subject, whites are fantastic if I'm lucky enough to find one (Rocking Horse Doodah on my patch).

I love the combination here of bold plumage pattern of the bird against the simplified background. If al the 'common as muck' birdies are rendered like this, then we're in for a treat!

Russ

 

[phil baber]

Thanks all for the feedback.
In the midst of the darkest weather I can remember in August, I squeezed out a Dunnock.
Very common bird here in the UK.
Working from photos (shows that I've never really sketched one because they are so common! And a little ashamed by that!)
I soon became awestruck in how delicately subtle its plumage actually is. It is a bird with hidden intricacies of plumage. And until today I never really appreciated how very marvellous they are! The whole plumage effect is designed to camouflage the bird. But studying the delicate patterns reveal a beauty begging to be understood.

This "Common Bird Conversion" is kind of getting to me. I will return to Dunnocks another time. Could've done better here. Just think of it as an exploratory piece, and enjoy your weekends!B

ps They do have the most wonderful red eyes!

 

[timwootton]

Wonderful piece of work. I think Dr Ennion was the one who, above all others, took the commonplace species and really explored them equally as he would, say, the breeding black-necks. There was no condescension (of course there ought not to be) and his wee study shows the delicacy and understated beauty of the species. It's very lovely.

 

[solitaryVSong]

Wonderful piece of work. I think Dr Ennion was the one who, above all others, took the commonplace species and really explored them equally as he would, say, the breeding black-necks. There was no condescension (of course there ought not to be) and his wee study shows the delicacy and understated beauty of the species. It's very lovely.

Lovely was exactly the word I was going to use, until I saw that Tim had beaten me to it. Nothing at all wrong with portraying the commonplace. As this shows they're really not so 'common' after all.