After a fortnight of glorious spring weather we woke up to over an inch of snow. This male doesn’t have a white band around his neck just a few white feather streaks, however he is stunning all the same and not any less eye catching.
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.
I was at the Gallery in Broughty Ferry getting some work framed. Afterwards I took a walk to see if there was anything interesting to sketch. There are often Swans down on the Tay and sure enough I saw at least ten of them enjoying some late morning sun. They were also rather keen to see if I had food for them in my bag. More than one of them wandered straight up to me to the point I had to back away a bit.
This is the image I painted for my 2010 Christmas card. While we were out walking we stumbled upon these delightful deer crossing the track. They stopped to check us out before heading back into the shelter of the forest. I thought I would post it now for the Winter Solstice.
I had fun painting this little fellow. We saw the puffins in the spring on the Isle of May and there were lots waiting for their mates with bills full of sand eels.
After going to the framers in Broughty Ferry I did some sketches by the waterfront. As the sun was starting to set the wind seemed to be getting stronger and the gulls were getting blown about. I did the sketch with neocolour watersoluble crayons then added water when I got home. Once that dried I added oil pastels to bring out some of the lights and darks.
I was catching up with gardening today. I decided to stop and get my pastels out as the bee’s on the lavender were quite captivating. They really are a fast moving subject but I liked the challenge.
I had fun sketching these moving subjects. I saw the parents swim ashore with 8 cygnets following. They starting preening themselves in the sun which allowed me time to draw them quickly.
I took this photo of one of the blackbirds that I have been feeding. If you look closer the mother bird has a broken claw. She has managed to rear a healthy chick, and seems to manage with her injury. Isn’t the chick so cute.
This cute pup was just at the waterside as we arrived on the Isle of May. Adult seals were swimming near by.