I was once having a conversation with Rebecca Nason on Fair Isle and can remember mentioning to her how amazing Szabolcs Kokay's artwork was.
Rebecca was in complete agreement and as coincidence would have It she told me that her stall was next to his at the bird fair.
At this point I vividly remember turning to her and saying that she should keep an eye on his work as he will undoubtedly become one of the masters of Bird and Wildlife illustration!
However I think I may have been wrong when I said "BECOME" I think I meant to say 'IS' and I hope this video illustrates my point!
HOW DOES HE DO IT??????
More of Szabolcs Kokay's mind blowing work can be found at:
http://www.kokay.hu/
and on his blog at:
http://kokayart.blogspot.com/
Check out his Squacco Heron in Watercolour....I'm speechless!
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
New Book: Drawing and Painting Birds by Tim Wootton
Where do I begin!
Lets just say I wake up very tired as I can't seem to put it down when I begin to read it just before bed. Not only is the text addictive but the pages are decorated from top to bottom with amazing artwork from some of my favourite artists and now new favourite artists.
Every aspect of bird art is covered in the book and takes you through each necessary step to get you started until you have reached completion on a finished piece. The beauty of any art book is its ability to relate to and inspire the beginner such as myself as well as a master of the field and this book does just that.
The book is segregated into the following sections
1. Why Paint Birds?
2. Drawing Techniques
3. Anatomy
4.Drawing Bird Types
5.Adding Paint
6.What and where to Paint
7. Elements of Composition: Placing the Birds in Context
8.Advance Techniques
and is a mass montage of colour, energy, and beauty that clearly conveys Tim Wootton's skill as a bird artist, his personal journey through art and his great passion for birds, bird art, the artists that inspired him and for life itself.
The only negative points I have to make about the book is the fact I don't get anytime to do my own art now because I can't put the book down. Also the book is beginning to jeopardise my relationship, as my girlfriend has lost me to the book and is sick of hearing 'how do you do that' and 'have you seen this' and 'WOW. WOW.WOW...look at this'.
It was bad enough before this book was published as I had not one, but two of John Busby's drawing birds books and now I have three books next to one another that talk to me when I'm sat around the house, 'PICK ME UP, PICK ME UP, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO' there worse than Kinder Bueno's....Yes its the book has be likened to Busby's books but honestly who gives a monkeys, surely more the merrier.
To all those negative critics I would like to refer to something John Busby once wrote:
'Too many wildlife artists shut their eyes to the values of the wider world of art, and then complain that their own work, which may ignore the aesthetic and emotional energies that are the lifeblood of art, is not admitted in the same league. Knowledge of subject matter is not enough. Art is a synthesis, a unity of the ideas and the means used to express them'
Yes I'm obsessed with this book and Busby's book and yes I don't care and I'm sure you will be yourself on opening it up. If you simply love birds or simply love illustrating and painting them you have to get this, that is unless you have a art deadline to meet
Right I have to go as I have a book to read.........oh and I may need to look into relationship counselling
Firstly a Huge Well done and Thank you to Tim Wootton and to all the featured artist
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK
Mark Andrews
Paul Bartlett
Robert Bateman
David Bennett
Arthur Bishop
Adam Bowley
John Busby
Alan Dalton
Adrian Dancy
Nick Derry
Paschalis Dougalis
Andrew Ellis
Angela French
Paul Hawkyard
Debby Kaspari
Ed Keeble
Szabolcs Kokay
Peter Mathios
Clive Meredith
Jocelyn Oudesluys
Bruce Pearson
Jonathan Pointer
Chris Rose
Beth Rosenkoeffer
John Threlfall
Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe
Esther Tyson
Franciscus Van Boxtel
Barry Van Dusen
Katrina Van Grouw
Juan Varela (all I can say if you haven't seen it already is wait until you see the drake Shoveler.....WOW)
Mike Woodcock
Darren Woodhead
Tim Wootton
Monday, 28 March 2011
Ray Turley 1949-2011
I thought I would take this opportunity to pay tribute to Ray Turley who sadly past away earlier this year. Although I never personally met him I felt compelled to celebrate his life in my own way having enjoyed many of his illustrations and paintings in the past
May he rest in peace and his artwork being enjoyed for many years to come
Saturday, 19 March 2011
A Sad Loss!
What ever happened to the days when stunning black and white vignettes graced the pages of our Ornithological Journals?
What happened to scraper board?
and what ever happened to a lot of the artists that produced them?
Ive uploaded a small selection of the type of work I am talking about and would love to think that one day I may see it again in Birdwatch, Birdwatching, British Birds, Birding World (At least Birding World has held on to having artwork decorate the front cover) alongside the fantastic photography that decorates the pages in these periodicals.
What happened to scraper board?
and what ever happened to a lot of the artists that produced them?
Ive uploaded a small selection of the type of work I am talking about and would love to think that one day I may see it again in Birdwatch, Birdwatching, British Birds, Birding World (At least Birding World has held on to having artwork decorate the front cover) alongside the fantastic photography that decorates the pages in these periodicals.
Black Stork (Phil Jones)
Greenshank on Nest (Andrew Shaw)
Dawn Goosanders (Peter M. Leonard)
Dusky Warbler (Brian Small)
Common Terns (John Cox)
Dartford Warbler (Brian Small)
Upland Sandpiper (Martin Hallam)
Northern Oriole (Ian Lewington)
Pallas's Warbler (Gary Wright)
Great Snipe (Martin Hallam)
In my eyes it has just as much right to be there than any high resolution image and encapsulates a bird a whole lot better than a full frame close up of a bird in which each rictal bristle is on display.
I'm not saying I don't love pin sharp close ups, as I do and a lot of the time they are essential for identification within a lot of species but would just love to see more photos whereby birds are in the surroundings and the environment/habitat has just as much voice as the bird itself.
Martin Cade of Portland Bird Observatory achieves just this and for this reason is still one of my favourite Bird photographers, I hope he doesn't mind me using his images as an example but this is what I mean and I think you will agree they look stunning.
Sorry if I sound like I'm ranting I just feel quite passionate about this subject!
Anyway these two images are my Martin Cade attempt of a Red-Backed Shrike on Fair Isle in 2009 and are some of my favourite images i have ever taken.
Cheers for the inspiration Martin and keep up the great work
P.s: If anyone feels just as strongly about this subject then simply scan your old black and white images/illustrations, old blast from the past images, vignettes you once had printed, vignettes you didn't get printed or drawings you simply love from old journals and email them to me (jackashtonbooth@hotmail.com) and I will continue to post them for the people to see and enjoy! Thanks Ever So Much and I really hope the above artists don't mind me using there work.
Thanks again Jack
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Legends, legendary times and legendary Birds!
This video depicts everything I love about John Busby, Gannets and Bird Art!
Simply a living Legend.........Inspirational is an understatement!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x4VXlglmfk
At 12 minutes he Beautifully sums up not only why he is one of the all time MASTERS of Bird Illustration (persisting in adverse weather conditions) but also Shetland when its windy:
" As much to deter an artist and make life difficult as there is to inspire"
Fortunately in my last year on Fair Isle Deryk (another living legend) took me down a rather skinny sheep track at Guidicum with Simon and Lachlan to ring Gannets and their chicks.
I was Blown away. Not literally, but by the shear beauty of a Gannet Colony!
I can't thank him enough as I have never been anywhere or experienced anything quite like it, you simply drift away into another world............If you have never done it you most definitely should or sit near to one.....it is a far more beautiful world than the one humans share with their neighbours!
Simply a living Legend.........Inspirational is an understatement!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x4VXlglmfk
At 12 minutes he Beautifully sums up not only why he is one of the all time MASTERS of Bird Illustration (persisting in adverse weather conditions) but also Shetland when its windy:
" As much to deter an artist and make life difficult as there is to inspire"
Fortunately in my last year on Fair Isle Deryk (another living legend) took me down a rather skinny sheep track at Guidicum with Simon and Lachlan to ring Gannets and their chicks.
I was Blown away. Not literally, but by the shear beauty of a Gannet Colony!
I can't thank him enough as I have never been anywhere or experienced anything quite like it, you simply drift away into another world............If you have never done it you most definitely should or sit near to one.....it is a far more beautiful world than the one humans share with their neighbours!
Although I look like a cabbage in all my gear I assure you it is necessary! Take a look at what an ultra-aggressive adult did to my arm and imagine what they can do if they went for your eyes!
Me and an Adult
Lachlan with an adult
Si with another Adult
Downy Chick
Adult with Downy Chick
Me cutting free a well grown chick having got itself entangled in fishing netting used to construct the nest mound
Deryk minding the youngsters
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
The Next Generation!
The following two pieces are illustrations given to me by two smashing lads on Fair Isle, who have undoubtedly got an eye for illustration. All the families and kids on Fair Ilse seem to have this ability to capture their surroundings and are extremely creative. The island seems to have a magical way of bringing the creative side out of everyone.
Hoopoe by Henry Hyndman
Henry did this Hoopoe for me after I saw my first on Fair Isle in Spring 2010. Although I have seen many abroad there is still nothing like seeing one in the British Isles and after missing a few at Spurn I was very eager to see one in the UK.
Thankfully Simon answered my prayers and found one sat on top of Vaadal Trap. It remained in this vicinity for a few days around the Vaadal Ditch area and even went to roost in the plantation much to my surprise one morning trap round as it shot out of the fir tree in back of the trap. However due to the north westerly wind the bird got height quickly and flew over my head and out of the mouth of the trap! Sorry Deryk!
The bird would often disappear for sometime and would be usually be relocated by the Starling researchers checking the starling nests in the dyke's. I vividly remember Jane Reid texting me 'HOOPOE ROCKET STATION'. At this time I didn't have a clue what or where the Rocket Station was and thought she was tipping me off about a new band!
I later discovered it was the building halfway up Hill Dyke and proceeded to watch it with Jane and Del as it fed in the west side of Vaadal Ditch where Del and I managed to get some record shots of the bird. After its departure a Hoopoe appeared on mainland Shetland and may as well have been our bird continuing to delight other observers.
Releasing a Hoopoe after it was Ringed in Eilat (Not Fair Ilse Unfortunately)
Scooty Allan's (Arctic Skuas) by Lowri Best
I am very grateful indeed for this drawing from Lowri as my Fair Ilse experience would have been the same without these birds. Having spent the past two summers working so closely with these birds you get encapsulated by them. I cant begin to explain what a privilege it was to monitor their nests, monitor the chicks and watch the lucky few flegde to begin their trans-equatorial migration! THEIR SIMPLY AMAZING!
A chick from one of my favourite pairs, isolated well away from the main nucleus of breeding Scootys on the island! Unsurprisingly this beautiful little chick failed as did its sibling the year before
Hoopoe by Henry Hyndman
Henry did this Hoopoe for me after I saw my first on Fair Isle in Spring 2010. Although I have seen many abroad there is still nothing like seeing one in the British Isles and after missing a few at Spurn I was very eager to see one in the UK.
Thankfully Simon answered my prayers and found one sat on top of Vaadal Trap. It remained in this vicinity for a few days around the Vaadal Ditch area and even went to roost in the plantation much to my surprise one morning trap round as it shot out of the fir tree in back of the trap. However due to the north westerly wind the bird got height quickly and flew over my head and out of the mouth of the trap! Sorry Deryk!
The bird would often disappear for sometime and would be usually be relocated by the Starling researchers checking the starling nests in the dyke's. I vividly remember Jane Reid texting me 'HOOPOE ROCKET STATION'. At this time I didn't have a clue what or where the Rocket Station was and thought she was tipping me off about a new band!
I later discovered it was the building halfway up Hill Dyke and proceeded to watch it with Jane and Del as it fed in the west side of Vaadal Ditch where Del and I managed to get some record shots of the bird. After its departure a Hoopoe appeared on mainland Shetland and may as well have been our bird continuing to delight other observers.
Releasing a Hoopoe after it was Ringed in Eilat (Not Fair Ilse Unfortunately)
Scooty Allan's (Arctic Skuas) by Lowri Best
I am very grateful indeed for this drawing from Lowri as my Fair Ilse experience would have been the same without these birds. Having spent the past two summers working so closely with these birds you get encapsulated by them. I cant begin to explain what a privilege it was to monitor their nests, monitor the chicks and watch the lucky few flegde to begin their trans-equatorial migration! THEIR SIMPLY AMAZING!
A chick from one of my favourite pairs, isolated well away from the main nucleus of breeding Scootys on the island! Unsurprisingly this beautiful little chick failed as did its sibling the year before
Monday, 6 December 2010
SOME VERY GOOD EGGS!
This post is really just a great big THANK YOU to some very good eggs I have had the pleasure to meet on my northern adventures. Firstly to Rebecca Nason and Phil Harris for everything they have done for me and for some amazing moments had on Fair Isle (none more so than the Waxwing Fest (feeding from out of our hands at times....MIND BLOWING!)
Rebecca and Phil sent me the following photo that captured another of my favourite memories from Fair Isle that involved a superb pair of Hooded Crows that constructed one of the most beautiful nests I have ever seen near to the cliff edge in one of the Geos on Fair Isle. Over a period of weeks I watched the assembly of the nest from a few dried kelp stems until it was lined, eggs were laid and the chicks hatched....Unfortunately due to the workload at the Obs Deryk, Simon and Myself didn't get the chance to ring them before the stunning chicks fledged!
This photo is just one of many that can be viewed at
http://shetlandexposure.blogspot.com/
and is a classic example of how Rebecca is in my opinion more of an artist than a photographer and seems to look at birds in a completely different light than a lot of her fellow leading wildlife photographers!
Another cracking egg, cracking birder and cracking artist is Will Miles who sent me this Olive-backed Pipit painting as a memoir of my first Olive-backed Pipit! I had many great conversations with Will about life and birds (especially whilst trying to catch petrels)and learnt a lot from him. What Will doesn't know about Leach's Storm Petrels and European Storm Petrels is probably not worth knowing and is a true birder who gets the same excitement from a migrant Dunnock coming in off the sea than he does finding vagrants from the far east!
THANKS ONCE AGAIN GUYS!
Rebecca and Phil sent me the following photo that captured another of my favourite memories from Fair Isle that involved a superb pair of Hooded Crows that constructed one of the most beautiful nests I have ever seen near to the cliff edge in one of the Geos on Fair Isle. Over a period of weeks I watched the assembly of the nest from a few dried kelp stems until it was lined, eggs were laid and the chicks hatched....Unfortunately due to the workload at the Obs Deryk, Simon and Myself didn't get the chance to ring them before the stunning chicks fledged!
This photo is just one of many that can be viewed at
http://shetlandexposure.blogspot.com/
and is a classic example of how Rebecca is in my opinion more of an artist than a photographer and seems to look at birds in a completely different light than a lot of her fellow leading wildlife photographers!
Another cracking egg, cracking birder and cracking artist is Will Miles who sent me this Olive-backed Pipit painting as a memoir of my first Olive-backed Pipit! I had many great conversations with Will about life and birds (especially whilst trying to catch petrels)and learnt a lot from him. What Will doesn't know about Leach's Storm Petrels and European Storm Petrels is probably not worth knowing and is a true birder who gets the same excitement from a migrant Dunnock coming in off the sea than he does finding vagrants from the far east!
THANKS ONCE AGAIN GUYS!
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