Gap Fillers

Ive been working on all sorts recently but mainly on pieces to be published in the forth coming Spurn Nature Review (09) which is due to be printed shortly. Between each piece or whilst I'm taking a break from a piece all i want to do is more art. The following are just things that i did to kill time during my breaks from other work. They may appear to be rushed and that because they were, they just keep me busy whilst I'm working on other more important work. They simply keep my techniques in check and to maintain concentration.

The Red-flanked Bluetail i did in about ten minutes just to get a feel for the species. I am currently working on one for the report and have been struggling at late to achieve the right posture and jizz of this brilliant little bird.

The latter was inspired by a bird that made for a fantastic Autumn on Fair Isle and denotes a 1st Winter Male Blackpoll Warbler that was found in the Plantation by my colleague Simon Davies. Not only was it a day i will never forget but on seeing the faces of everyone grinning from ear to ear after a very wet and windy autumn was simply awesome.

Loose Pen Work

Recently i have been using a lot of my old drawing pens just so i dont forget how to illustrate with loose lines. Last month i was working on very detailed work (not yet posted) and wanted to maintain a balance with other mediums. Its nice just to be quick and brash with a pen at times especially when you are busy with other things. The following are sketches i did quickly in gaps i had between other pieces im (or was ) working on:

Long-eared Owl

I must foremost apologise to all of you who follow my blog for the lack of posts during the past couple of weeks. My thoughts have been focused elsewhere and illustration has been the last thing on my mind but I intend to regularly update my blog once again so please bear with.

From the first time i ever saw a Long-Eared Owl sat in the sand in an empty net ride at Spurn Point they have always fascinated me. Not only are they incredibly secretive but they are amongst the most beautiful and spell binding birds you are likely to see. I was extremely lucky last year to spend the best part of November on Fair Isle that consisted of daily arrivals of thrushes in from the east. These waves of immigrants were shadowed by Long-eared owls that mainly found themselves in amongst the Heligoland traps. My favourite encounters with this incredible species was a spring female that decided to sit in amongst the chickens at Schoolton and the bird i have illustrated below that i accidentally flushed from Hesti Geo before alighting on the cliff in full view around the Holmes/Dog Geo area.

Watercolours 2008

These were some illustrations i worked on at the back end of 2008 and have only just got them back. They are mainly inspired by events witnessed at Spurn Bird Observatory. I'm happy with some of the results but some i didn't feel happy with either for the inaccuracy of the bird (one of the Pochards), colour reproduction (Black Redstart & Robin )or colours themselves (Mistle Thrush). I still struggle with applying colour and find it hard to achieve the right colour balance without jeopardising the light in the painting or the bird itself . However irrespective of this i love the on going up and downs that come with bird illustration (especially in watercolours) and there is nothing that would stop me painting because when your happy with a finished piece there is no better feeling in the world!

Ray Scally (NEW WEBSITE)

This was a piece of artwork i was sent by Ray Scally as a Christmas present. I am sure you will agree that its a fantastic piece of work and is one i will cherish. Not only is the light in the drawing excellent but it also captures the feeling of a Collared Pratincole fantastically which is very hard to do when such an energetic bird as a pratincole is stationary. I hope on seeing this you go immediately to his NEW WEBSITE and check out his other Brilliant work at http://www.rayscally.co.uk

I'm sure like me it will be added to your Favourites instantaneously!

Thanks Once Again Ray

Siberian Thrush (The Last of my Christmas Artwork)

These are some illustrations i compiled for Deryk Shaw (Fair Isle Bird Observatory Warden)as a memoir of his discovery of a 1st Winter Male Siberian Thrush on Fair Isle back in 2008 and as a thank you present for all that he did for me during 2009. Not only was he a dream boss but gave me one of the best jobs in the world. I don't know whether he has received the work yet so i just hope he opens his package before reading this.

Spectacled Eider (Christmas Work Continued)

Firstly I'm SORRY for the lack of posts on my blog over the festive period i have been away at Spurn and will be continuing with on going artwork now im back much to my excitement.

The following is a piece of work i worked on for Tommy Hyndman and his family for a Christmas Present and represents his dream bird on Fair Isle where he lives. Not only is it one of the most likely place for one of these stunning birds to turn up but was a beautiful bird to illustrate. I just hope i get the chance to illustrate it in person when it arrives on our shores.

I have more posts to follow but please bear with me as some people may still not have received them as presents so am unable to post them as yet.