Bella In Acrylics

My followers will have noticed a lull in my art for most of April and May. I was working on a commission that took me quite some time to do and was just a little outside of my comfort zone. I am happy enough to work in oils but due to time constraints and the fact that this one needed to be on canvass left little choice other than acrylic.I have dabbled with them before but only for smaller pieces and this one was reasonably big by my standards being 24 x 18 inches.



I did find acrylics different and certainly at the beginning, I cursed them for their lack of blendability. Consequently, the piece did take me a little longer than anticipated but, over time I did get to appreciate the quick drying properties and the lack of odour. Having spent lots of hours on it and knowing that it had been ordered for a significant birthday did provide me with some anxiety when it came to delivery time on Saturday. I covered it in a very strong cardboard at the front and supported it with my large art board at the back and didn't dare breathe until it was safely handed over!

It is difficult to get a sense of scale on the internet so here is another taken shortly before packing and wrapping.



As both the commissioner and the birthday girl had a tear in their eye on seeing it, I think that it was well received. Thankfully, there was a similar story for the Kizzy portrait from a couple of posts ago who went to her owners yesterday. All I seem to have done this weekend is make people cry! Mind I also rendered Kizzy's owner to be stuck for words and I reckon that is a first ;)

Common Redstart

I know that some people think I have an endless knowledge of birds and insects but I confess right here that this is limited. I am always learning. I can identify most of our garden species of birds but after that, it all gets a little more problematic. I follow the local Shropshire birding Yahoo group and would probably learn on a lot faster if I could visit the places they mention when the less common birds are there. However, working full time puts paid to that and normally I have to discover things in slow time for myself. I do get a little help, another avid photographer and nature lover often (very kindly) points us in the direction of the unusual and is brilliant at providing us with great directions. Yesterday we went to visit Cannock Chase which was one of his original recommendations. I never go with the attitude that I want to see "one thing" in particular. This kind of attitude can leave you disappointed and you miss so much. Yesterday we came across this little bird and I hadn't got a clue!



It was only when I cam home that I was able to identify it as "Common" Redstart. We actually spent some time watching it pick up food from the grassland and it is a beautiful little thing.



Sadly, it another that is on the RSPB amber list due to loss of habitat. So, I make no apologies for making it the feature of this post!



Due to the very obvious colour and markings, it was not altogether difficult to identify (hope she has it right, haha).
However, the same cannot be said for all. For example, there are a pair of birds nesting on the Hermitage, in almost exactly the same place as last year, that I am unable to ID. They have a line through their eye like a Chiffchaff or warbler but they do not warble and neither do they chiff chaff! They also look to be quite small and very, very active. I don't think I am going to get anywhere with those until I eventually manage to capture one of them on camera but, I will have to get a lot quicker! Similarly, I saw a bird of prey on the way home last week just outside one of our local villages. It had the right kind of shape for a Red Kite but the wrong colour. I can also rule out Buzzard (wrong shape), Sparrowhawk (too big), Kestrel (too big), Hobby (too big) and just keep looking at the local bird group entries in the hope that someone else spots it who has more knowledge than I do. For now, I still have some mysteries!

Abracadabra, three four five

I am still unsure of the breed but think it may be a German, wired haired Pointer. Update, she is a Hungarian wire haired Vizla. Wired haired or not, she is very silky with unusual colouring and I am sure that other coloured pencil artists won't be surprised to learn that as well as white, brown and tan, I also used red, orange, yellow, lilac, grey and black!



It was a fur type that I haven't really done before and I also ended up using a burnishing pencil to get some shine. I enjoyed it, it has been a little while since I did any coloured pencil.

Work in Progress - Take One

Well, it was about time I put some art up so here is take one! More will follow shortly. As you can see, I had to get eyes and nose in ~ it is almost the bit where it starts to take life. I know that some people leave those till last but, that wouldn't work for me. I want to see her coming to life, it motivates me to keep going :) Btw, if her family are watching, please leave a comment and let me know what breed she is!

Saft Dogs

In the West Midlands they have a word "Saft". It represents someone or something that is a bit soft and daft which I think fits the bill for this post. My son came to see me yesterday with his dog Patch. Cal, is a bit of a one for collecting up waifs and strays and I confess to being a little worried about this latest one. I am not sure what type of dog it is but it has the look of American Bulldog. Quite rightly I was concerned initially as to it's temperament. However, he is very well socialised, lovely natured and a total wuss.



I couldn't resist taking a pic or two.

There has been no art on my blog for a little while because I have been working on quite a big commission that has taken me several weeks. I hope to be able to blog it at some point but meanwhile, now it is complete, I also have another to do. So, whilst I had the camera out, I also went to see Kizzy (not sure if that is spelt correctly) who is also a lovely natured girl.



Her owners are happy for me do do his one as a work in progress so here is my start on her. It is coloured pencil on Murano paper. I am using Faber Castells because they sharpen to a very fine point and I want this fineness for that lovely silky fur. As yet and probably for a little while, I am only using white, the rest will follow.....

Banded Demoiselle Damselfly

I am trying to increase my knowlege of damselflies and dragonflies. It isn't always easy to recognise the species. For example, with damselflies it initially seems that everything you see is a common blue. There are so many variations which can make it a challenge. Two years ago, almost every photo I took was put up on Wild About Britain for ID, which some knowledgable people very kindly provided. Last year, Andy sorted me out some excellent reference books and I began to be able to recognise some but my education is still lacking. This year, I am attempting to study and photograph as many different ones as I can. This is a male banded demoiselle, usually found on river banks in quite large numbers.

Frenzied Feeding

All the birds are so busy right now collecting food for the little ones. I think that this is a Marsh tit but I stand to be corrected (Willow Tits are so similar). Sometimes I can tell but not this time...
The Nuthatches are still visiting the garden, only now the female comes in too. For the first time ever this week, I have also seen a Great Spotted Woodpecker gathering insects off the lawn.

Deer at Attingham Park in Spring

Despite covering the Fallow deer at Attingham Park at feeding time, lovely as it was, I prefer to see them naturally on the estate. This day, they were not too bothered at all. We were sitting in an effort not to be threatening and I had to smile at a boy who came and sat beside us clearly following our lead and realising that as he sat, he was much less likely to scare them. It was great to see patience in one so young!
I will add one more to this because it was so different in the Spring environment. If you click in you can see bits of white falling, this was blossom petals in the wind ;)

Pearl Bordered Fritillary Butterfly

We recently took a day out to Wyre forest. It is just over the border but not really very far. It is a haven for some of the more unusual butterflies, many of them under threat. It is a beautiful spot, we simply spent a lovely day in old woodland and finished of the day with a pint of Magners in a the nearby Olde New Inn :) Another rarity from the day was the Wood white butterfly which has posted on my photography blog. This was a first sighting for me of both of these butterflies and the Small Pearl Bordered too. But, I will save that one for another day!

Flowers in the Rain

After several weeks without rain in Shropshire, last week produced some torrential rain. In fact we had several of inches of hail last week which managed to close the roads in Bridgnorth for a while!

Bluebells at Attingham Park

It was hard to choose an image for today for many reasons but, this is the one. Taken a couple of weeks ago, this was bluebells in the sun at Attingham Park.

Waterfall

I have so many photo's and have not got around to sharing for many reasons. However, I will try to post up one a day for a little while...perhaps till I run out! This one is Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall in North Wales.

Happy Sunday :)

Some Wildlife Firsts & Seconds

One of the wonderful things about nature is that rolling cycle. After observing for a little while, you find yourself looking out for butterflies, birds and insects throughout the spring.
The birds that visit my feeders diminish rapidly. The hordes of blue tits and the flocks of long tailed tits that reached a dozen or so in the winter have all disappeared. I know that some people stop feeding their birds in the summer but after watching all the bird pairs come in for food for hungry infants over the last three years, I leave mine for the Spring time. A few surprises are thrown up too. For example, last year about March we saw the first nuthatch at the feeder. All went quiet towards the end of June with no further sign. Imagine my surprise when he turned up again this year!



We currently have a single pairs of Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Goldfinches and Greenfinches. We also have a pair of House Sparrows nesting by the roof. Some of these are more confiding than others but in the dry spells, we were both highly amused at the Blackbird jumping in and out of our hosepipe shower.

On the insect front, I saw my first hornet flying around the garden in April and it was within two days of my first sighting of one last year.



Similar experiences together with locations could be said for the butterflies too. Last year in the meadow at Severn Valley Park, I saw green Hairstreak butterflies. So, this year I went looking again. Sure enough they were back and the same day saw the emergence of Common Blues and a couple of firsts for the site too. I noticed the familiar sight of the Brown Argus although I doubt I would have recognised it without becoming familiar with them last year on my local area of the Hermitage. An added bonus was seeing a Dingy Skipper which I have never seen before. They may well have been there of course but, my ability to differentiate butterflies from day flying moths has improved a little over the past couple of years. The nice thing was that when I went to check out my favourite bramble patch on the Hermitage, it seems that the Brown Argus is back there too.




The first damselfly to emerge here in Shropshire is the large red. This year, I was almost waiting for it and spotted my first down by the Severn. Since then, there has been a constant emergence of several others and I have spotted Azures, White Legged and both Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles. As I write I know that dragonflies have also been spotted in the area but, as yet I have only seen one. However, as this was also a first for me, I was very happy to see a Common Clubtail. As a nature lover, I often smile at the term "Common", it seems to me that some these species are far from it any more.



For my nature loving followers, I will be following up this post with images grouped into species on my photography blog i.e. more pics and less words! With my lack of posting lately, I have rather condensed recent sightings. Instead of making this even longer for those still on dial up, species mentioned without images will be added over there shortly.
Thankfully the rest during the last week seems to have greatly improved the problem with shoulder/hand but, I am still trying to limit my internet time ~ I don't want it to flare up again, I quickly realised that the majority of my hobbies involve my right hand ;)

Snookered

This will be a short post....I am great in myself but for some strange reason I have mega problem with my hand. No problem till I went back to work Tuesday. But, ever since I have had unbelievable pain in my right hand which seemed to be exacerbated by mouse clicking. I lasted almost the week , but with increasing difficulty.. I then took today off realising that even with rests, I seem to be getting worse. So, I intend to rest it up for a while...



I will respond to all emails, comments, FB etc as soon as I can but, right now...I am endeavouring to have a computer break. Goodness knows how that will go, for the first time in several years, I may have to figure out how the TV works!!!!

Green Man Festival at Clun

Clun is a small town in South Shropshire set in a very beautiful valley. It was built around a 14th century packhorse bridge which has alcoves for pedestrians.



As you can see from the photo, there is quite a gathering of people. This is because every year they hold a Green Man Festival which takes place over May bank holiday. It culminates on May Day (which was today) with a battle between the Ice Queen and the Green Man. If the Green Man doesn't win then summer doesn't reach the valley! Before the battle takes place both drums and fire are the tradition.



I would strongly advise readers not to try this themselves, I do think that there are easier ways of cooking burgers!

The Ice Queen arrives to many boos and groans from the crowd!



The Green man arrives to cheers and clapping.



Then the battle commences. The winner then parades through the town along with a variety of entourage. Many of the people that attend get into the spirit and have decorated hats and heads.



Traditional dancing takes place from the Morris Dancers with their handkerchiefs and sticks.



To some younger dancers around the Maypole.



The only dancing that I did was a little bop along with Whalebone who were playing in the beer tent. This was probably helped along by a pint of very nice English scrumpy although I can only hope that no-one noticed me!



There is a large craft area in the castle grounds with lots of interesting goods on sale. There was local produce, jewelry, leather and art to name but a few. I treated myself to a lovely Green man print by artist/illustrator Christopher Bell.

Further entertainment was provided by re-enactments and performers young and old.



I even bumped into Hodman and Sally. Hodman said that if he had realised that so much Paparazzi was going to be present, he would have remembered to have put his teeth in!



As Andy commented on the way home, it was certainly different! :D

About Me!

I have had quite a long Easter Break, with the bank holidays and a little bit of leave, I managed to get a whole twelve days. I had fantastic intentions of sorting my garden, reading, catching up with friends, some visits with photography, plenty of art and some much needed housework!
As you might expect, I didn't quite get all of that done.....
However, I did catch up with friends and relatives that I hadn't seen for ages which was lovely. I did make some inroads into my garden, although there is still much to be done. If anyone can tell me a good use/ good reason for ground elder then please do let me know now ;) On a positive note, the lawns are mowed, my feeders are full and at least three bags of weeds have been cleared.
Plenty of visits have been made including parts of the Severn valley that I didn't know existed. This lovely brook is less than ten minutes from home and only a few minutes from a lovely little pub by the river.



We managed to visit Rectory and Dudmaston woods, the local wildlife park, Attingham Park, Ragley Hall falconry event and had some time watching wildlife in OUR garden!

It was good to catch up with some different reading. When I am working, because I am often so tired, I tend to read very easy going material. Not quite chick lit but fiction that is easy. My friend Yvonne very kindly sent me a gift of a book called Deep Country by Neil Ansell which I am loving (Thank You again Yvonne for the lovely thought). I am purposely trying to hold myself back from reading it too fast. It is about the author who spent five years in a remote Welsh cottage and all his wildlife observances. At the start of the holiday I also read a book entitled A Year in the Woods by Colin Elford. This one is a little different, Colin is a gamekeeper for woodland in Wiltshire. What I have enjoyed the most about both of them is that unlike many wildlife champions, they are not preaching at me. Sometimes, I find that the tirade against mankind is a little too much. I cannot help but think that we cannot keep going back to the past, it is what we do in the future that matters but, perhaps that is just me.

Art wise, well....I have not managed very much at all. I started a pastel painting of a spaniel....but, I have not got very far, it has a long way to go! However, I think there will be plenty of time for that when it rains and I am sure it will sooner than later!


I almost forgot, I also had a complete disaster with a portrait of a little girl which I am going to ceremoniously rip up. It was a good lesson in being careful with supports. I hated the paper almost from the start and foolishly continued ~ I have learned. More importantly, I did finish my painting commission and am happy with that result.

I have taken lots of photo's, not just out and about but, also around my garden. It was lovely to have the time to pull out the macro when I discovered a bug or just sit and watch my own garden birds. This Nuthatch only ever comes to our feeders in Spring and I think it is because he is feeding his good lady on the nest.



I will follow with another post of my garden inhabitants for my wildlife followers soon along with numerous flowers, insects, bluebells and the falconers.

On another happy note, I have found the bottom of my washing basket and I have even managed a little ironing (now, that is scary). Those of you that know me well will be relieved to note that my house still needs dusting and cleaning!