Having just got back into Yorkshire ive recently set up a small and rudementary art studio in the porch of my new lodgings. Not only does it provide fantastic natural light but is situated in a fantastic area and allows me to watch some stunning garden birds between pen strokes or brush strokes. Although i have a lot of artwork to be getting on with for bird reports and for people i always make time to illustrate for YORKSHIRE BIRDING (http://www.yorkshirebirdingmagazine.blogspot.com/)
Not only are some of my good friends involved in the production of the journal but for me there is nothing better than doing art that involves local birds, in local habitats, for local people. The beauty of illustrating birds is the fact that you constantly see beauty all around you irrespective of whether it is in the city or on a lichen covered dyke wall.
The attached illustration is of a Baillon's Crake found by Andy Roadhouse(JO)during the autumn just gone at Spurn. Sadly i wasn't there to see it so had to rely on photographic reference to produce this illusration. Looking at the final piece i would have liked to made the throat a little paler and the nape somewhat paler. Also i would have liked to elongate both tarsus a little but as you will see if you begin to follow my blog that i have an on going battle trying to accuratley depict the legs and feet in proportion to the body but you never fail until you stop trying i suppose.
