Welcome to Nick's dining room table. (2 Viewers)

[gropperwinch]

again marvellous, you can see the huge difference between bee-eaters in different media, while the Purple Sandpiper is a typical great piece of impressionistic brilliance!:t:

 

[nickderry]

again marvellous, you can see the huge difference between bee-eaters in different media, while the Purple Sandpiper is a typical great piece of impressionistic brilliance!:t:

sorry to correct you Mr Winch! But it's a purple sandPAPER! (Bought specially to paint certain waders on after being inspired by a typo in a book)

 

[phil baber]

The first two are delicate, gentle water-colour delights. Are you sure it's just you painting all these differing styles???

Purple Sandpaper is a light-bath explosive wonder! (Have Purple Sandpapers got "scratchy" calls then? My "rough" attempt at a joke. I'll get my coat before anyone gets too "abrasive" with me...:-C)

But you had to do Bee-Eaters!

Have been attending the Merops Apiaster Unit, where, with a course of prescribed medication, I had been gradually weaned off my addiction.

Then you had to do THIS! :eek!:

Absolutely stunning!

A 1970's RSPB Birds Cover for sure! :t:B

 

[gropperwinch]

I see!!

so the second one was a Bee-later then?

 

[colleenc]

I like the watercolors but the second set on sandpaer and then the bee eaters, has so much power from the surface treatments and bold color, seems like more freedom suits you, tho I think it well to work across media, as each one can add to your toolbox of rendering and cross fertilize each other...

 

[timwootton]

All wonderful but a big shout for the little ringed shaggers - excellent. The delicate bee-eater watercolour is a masterclass in the application of media - I find your work goes onto a different level when you work slightly more contemplatively. Gorgeous.

 

[RussB]

Just been admiring the Bee-eater and LRP's. Copulating ( political correctness has even reached BF ) LRP's have been 'nailed' exceptionally well - what observation! Bee-eater is a kaleidoscope of colour - like they should be. Warm colours come forward and cool colours recede; in't that right? See, I know a bit about art!

Russ

 

[nickderry]

just realised that I didn't post most of my sketches from last month - here they are - I think most are recogniseable - no LBJs!

stonechat, lapwings, white storks, cuckoo, fieldfare and goldfinch

 

[nickderry]

more

bee eaters and common sandpiper (in the same view to be worked up), fieldfare, yellow wag (with abnormal white throat) cuckoo, tufties, coots, black tern.

 

[nickderry]

last ones

 

[nickderry]

Yesterday afternoon I headed out to try and catch up with a pair of Short-toed Eagles that have been spending the last month flying around a valley near here - my trip was doomed to failure as I have blurred eyes with floaters all over the place, so impossible to pick anything out unless it's nearby (like the several Buzzards, 1 Honey Buzzard and 1 Black Kite that did get the pulse racing until I put binoculars to my eyes).

I started out at Osselle, just to see what was hanging around, nice to see at least that the Blackcaps had managed to fledge young, the Melodious Warblers were singing, and at one point I had a fledgling Blackcap in the same little bush as a Melodious Warbler, some fledgling 'Phylloscs' (probably Chiffchaffs) all being watched by a White Wagtail. This pretty dragonfly seems to have awoken a renewed interest in Odonata - White-tailed Skimmer.

 

[nickderry]

with the weather starting to brighten, I headed up to a good vantage point to hope for Eagles - no such luck. There was plenty to enjoy on the ground though - probably a reason I didn't see the birds I wanted! Turtle Doves, Lesser Whitethroats, Cirl Bunting, Dunnock and Melodious Warbler - and Marbled Whites and Heath Fritillaries everywhere - another Odonata is the gorgeous Beautiful Demoiselle.

 

[Strandman]

back to busy - purple sandpaper and bee eaters digging a hole

what brill effects on the sandpaper and seemingly a million colours- I've just been back for another lok at the pool of chestnutty brown on its nape

 

[nickderry]

last one - a long-eared owl from 11 years ago that was sitting in the open over a ditch at Belvide one November. I'll try and find the pics I did of it at the time to compare.

 

[mattybohan]

That is a gorgeous series of sketches. Fun to see those damsel and dragonflies as well!

 

[solitaryVSong]

That is a gorgeous series of sketches. Fun to see those damsel and dragonflies as well!

And, as I think Colleen said, no one dances with line the way that you do! Seeing sketches like these is always like waking up on a beautiful spring morning. It's truly amazing how much you're able to get into each drawing.

 

[username]

Lot to catch with here...and too much good stuff to comment on...:t:

Brilliant purple 'sandpaper'...fantastic effect....!

ps...tho i will be honest...when i just looked at the pic first, without reading the accompanying text...[and what with the cool colors n all]....my first thought i will admit...was ptarmigan]!...i hope you don't mind me saying that..!

 

[Woody]

Speechless...

Mike

 

[gropperwinch]

there will be an earthqauke soon. my jaw just hit the floor so hard it sent tremors through the ground!:eek!:

 

[Woody]

Well I came back for a proper look and I still can't believe just how good this latest batch is.

Mike