HERONS AND EGRETS

As mentioned in my last post, we were staying with our friends Richard and MY while recuperating in Hong Kong and this was the view that greeted me each morning looking out the front window! The mountains are a bit misty in this pic but for an artist, loads of atmosphere! I would often set up the scope and watch egrets, herons and other waterbirds feeding and wading in the waters outside. From the couch, I could lie quietly with my binoculars and watch other birds come in to the birdbath set up just outside the window - always a very enjoyable experience. And from the upstairs bedroom, I had great views into the small wood where thrushes and redstarts could be found, and I was often entertained by the calls of a very early Koel and later when the weather warmed up a little, the scratchy squeaky but sweet song of a Violet-whistling Thrush just outside the window.

Since I was not able to move around much, I started by giving myself a drawing project where I would open a book and draw at random in my sketchbook. After a few days of this, I felt able to start doing watercolor studies of some of the birds I had seen. The first was of a Grey Heron (above) which came out okay but was done on horrible paper in a cheap sketchbook - new reserved for drawing only! Later I did more studies of these birds along with some of the rarer birds seen during Jan and Feb. These will follow in later posts. Grey Heron, watercolor, 6" x 3.5" - sketchbook study.

A NEW START

Well, as you can see, it has been quite some time since I last posted on this blog - and there are some very good reasons! More on that in a bit. First I would like to wish you all the very best for 2014 and hope you had a wonderful holiday season.
To start off, I plan on making a few changes to this blog this year as well as to explore some different subject matter. One of the reasons for doing so is to be able to post on a more regular schedule and to offer more images of not just of my artwork, but also some of my photos. Don't worry, the adding of photos will be more to illustrate concepts and ideas - this will still be an artist's blog. I'll include some of my travel pics when required so as to add flavor to some of my stories and adventures.
Now, to the reason for my lack of posts. At the end of Nov last year, we traveled first to Hawaii then after a week of glorious sandy beaches, surf and sun we flew on to Hong Kong. Trying to post from over there proved problematic to say the least so I gave up and planned on posting again as soon as we returned to the US. Well, to cut a long story short, on the 22nd of Dec, I fell from a bicycle and broke my leg! This meant a hospital stay, an operation and some time spent in the recovery ward.
Thankfully M took great care of me and kept this rather traumatic event in perspective. I was also fortunate in that my good friends Richard and MY offered us a place to stay while I recuperated. They live in the Northeastern part of Hong Kong in a wonderful house overlooking a tidal bay with the Pat Sin Mountains as a backdrop. For me I couldn't have wished for a better place to recover. The incredible view aside, each day I could look out as egrets, herons and kingfishers went about their daily life. Black kites soared overhead, a nearby island held a pair of breeding white-breasted sea eagles, and thrushes and flycatchers could be found in the woodland behind the house. All in all, perfect for an artist and birdwatcher like me but I realized that it was going to be a long road so tried to relax as best as I could and took each day at a time.
Presently we are back in the US so I will start regular posting from now on. The heavily cropped image above is of a young Ring-billed Gull - a species I look forward so seeing again soon. Size is about 4" x 5", watercolor on Canson paper.

INLAND WATERS

A small 5" x 7" study of the marshland along the Chesapeake where I love to go and paint. Chincoteague is a wonderful reserve on the coast of Virginia full of birds and ponies. Obviously waterbirds predominate but with a fair amount of surrounding trees (mostly pines), warblers and other birds are the attraction - especially during migration, so while painting I keep the binoculars handy! This painting will be in the exhibition at Berkley Gallery that opens this weekend so I hope if you are in the area, you will come and visit.

STORM AT SEA

I love being out in inclement weather so when a strong storm neared the coast, I was out there trying to do some studies in an effort to capture the feelings of wind and rain - plus the rather heavy surf! Here two waves are breaking at the same time and the wind is whipping off the tops in sheets of spray. Whitecaps further out show just how disturbed the sea was that day and heavy clouds darkened the scene rather dramatically. This smaller work is perhaps a precursor to larger paintings that I hope to complete at a later date - a pleasant reminder perhaps of time spent sea-watching off the North coast of Cornwall. Storm at sea is an oil on canvas, size 9" x 12" (23cm x 31cm).

COUNTRY FARM - MORNING SNOW

To complete the painting I laid in the background trees using various shades of brown, then the evergreen trees followed before finishing up with finer details such as tree branches etc. A wooden fence on the right helped add much needed detail to the mostly open area on that side and the smaller spots of orange brought a little more color into the foreground. I'll probably fiddle with it a bit more but for now I'm declaring the painting finished! This oil will form my centerpiece in the up-coming exhibition at Berkley Gallery in Warrenton, Virginia that opens this weekend. The reception is on Saturday Nov 23rd from 5:00 to 7:00 and the exhibition runs through to the end of December. Country Farm is 24" x 36" (610cm x 915cm).

COUNTRY FARM, PART 1

I saw this farm in morning snow not far from my home and due to a convenient side road, was able to park on the side and do a number of sketches and studies. Later back at the studio, I chose a large canvas and drew out the composition in pencil. Usually I start at the top of the painting then work down and forward but after putting in the sky, I became so interested in the silos and other farm buildings that I just had to paint them next. After working on the mid-ground area for awhile, I decided to finish the foreground so I added the snow with the long shadows cast from the tall trees just out of the picture on the left. Next I'll work on the background and finish up with some of the final details around the farm.

OSPREY AND MORNING MIST

Living near the Potomac River means just a short drive to its wooded banks and I love to walk the towpath especially in the spring and fall when the river is particularly beautiful.  Migrant birds abound drawn not so much by the water but by the tall trees that boarder each side. On the Maryland side, these trees often form an extensive network of woods leading deep into the northern part of the state. I usually start my walk at Great Falls and watch out for larger birds overhead as well as warblers etc which at times seem to be in every bush and tree. On occasion I'll see an Osprey or two usually following the river or soaring higher over the trees and love to follow them in my binoculars. More rarely eagles appear but it is also a good place to find Black (and Turkey) Vultures.
When I'm painting I try to remember to keep looking up in case there is something overhead and this is the idea in the painting here. I'm often attracted to the area below the falls especially when mist fills the air and distances seems absolute. For me it is a magical playground where each vista takes on a new meaning - I'll spend hours painting until the sun rises high enough to burn off the mist and the river returns to normal. I never seem to tire of it. Osprey and Morning Mist, oil on canvas, size 9" x 12".