I couldn’t resist painting this magnificent fellow who briefly visited the garden. This is a male Sparrow Hawk which has that blue grey back. Today a female Sparrow Hawk visited. She perched on the same post in the garden. She is quite different with a brown back instead of blue grey. I used only three oil colours plus white,prussian blue, translucent- magenta and cadmium yellow.
Last weekend we got away on a short campervan trip to Forfar. I did lots of sketching outdoors as the weather was so nice. I liked the fact the Daffodils were set against a dark background. This was a 15min sketch.
What wonderful weather we are having just now. I took the opportunity to work outdoors on some colour block studies. This is good for improving observational skills when it comes to colours. I did one study in overcast light and one in sunshine. The garden is coming alive with fresh buds on the plants. Birds were chirping away as I worked, who needs music when you are in the great outdoors! (or even your back garden!)
I was at a Ploughing match in Dunino Fife and these two beautiful horses stole the show for me. I did a sketch to capture the gesture of the pose and the tonal value of the painting. I then got out my pastels and had fun. The day was quite damp and misty however that made for an interesting setting for the painting.