Time for Some Art - A Pup, Bridgnorth & an Orange!

I thought it was time I broke off from my travels and did another art update. I have been quite busy of late with a number of projects. The first was a pet portrait for one of my blogging friends Tina. She asked if I could do a portrait of Bella, who is a very "personable" honey Labrador. The photo reference that she liked the best was Bella shortly before her first walk...a Puppy girl!



Coloured Pencil on Colorfix

Meanwhile, the owners of Kissy which is a couple of pages back had her beautifully framed by a local framer in Bridgnorth ~ Triple Effect. Ian made a superb job of it and it really does bring out the subject. As, I may well require some framing done at some point, I went in to see him and he suggested that he stock a few of my prints. It was quite difficult to decide what to go for initially but, being a tourist town I have had a couple of giclee prints made up of my Bridgnorth scenes. One is on my blog last year but this is one that I don't think I have posted here of Bridgnorth, Low Town Bridge



I am also working on some small affordable originals in a wildlife theme and may well have some more prints done at some stage but, it is difficult to know what may prove popular....so will wait and see.

Meanwhile, I also ordered some different supports. Mainly because Colorsoft is being discontinued in many of my suppliers. As a substitute, I ordered some Clairefontaine Pastelmat. Before I do anything, I like to try a test piece to see how many layers it will take and also to see how my coloured pencils work with it. My test pieces tend to be small but, I often do fruit. It then provides a great indication of the depth of colour that can be achieved. So this is my test piece, an orange on a tree!

Yogatography

"I took a few shots at the botanical gardens the other day. No one warned me how difficult it is to photography a butterfly. They don't exactly "pose" for you. I felt like I was chasing them around waiting for them to "be still" for just a second. I appreciate your shots all the more!!"

This comment was left on my last blog post by the very lovely Mickie from her Forgetmenot blog. I confess that it made me smile because I don't normally show the out takes. Andy has taken a few and smiles but, is much to kind too embarrass me by posting them up. However, I thought it would be good to explain the "end image" .

Many of the images I post up would appear effortless and to be honest I am happy with that. But, perhaps it would be good for other photographers to know that they don't happen just by chance. I stalk butterflies, birds and dragonflies, spending many hours simply watching where they land and inching closer and closer.

I think nothing of wading through streams and brambles, being bitten by other insects or crawling around in the mud! I think I enjoy it all the more because when I was small, I would have got into trouble for getting messy:)



I think perhaps some will understand that I love it! I am also of the opinion that it doesn't matter what camera you have, how gucci or technical, nothing can take the place of patience. Stalking is all about building confidence with your subject, allowing them to feel comfortable when you are about. I buy shoes that allow me to walk quietly, I have clothes that blend into the background. My old camo jacket is old and bedraggled but it works in the wildlife environment. Sometimes I sit in among the trees trying to blend and am annoyed if I disturb a rabbit because then I have failed to keep quiet and still enough! I have kept so still that squirrels have ran over my boots! Alternatively, it may be about building confidence as it was with this Robin. Just some food and lots of patience....



The rewards for me are huge. Yes, I get some great images from time to time...but, it isn't all about that. It is the special moments!




Furthermore, even inanimate subjects can be problematic.....let alone those that are moving. Getting close to nature can be a matter of getting damn close!



However, I can look at photo's like this and see why my neighbours may think I am nuts!!

Meanwhile Back in the UK....

It seems as though in my absence everything turned to brown! After a couple of weeks away, the wildlife had almost done a complete change around. The field at the top is covered with yellow and brown butterflies are in abundance, particularly Ringlets which seem to be having a great year!



There is an emergence of Meadow Browns, Small Skippers and a second brood of Small Coppers too. I also spotted an newly emerged Brown Argus. Sadly, the weather has been awful on almost every day we have had off which has curtailed our wildlife visits. We did go to Dudmaston woods to see if the White Admirals are about this year and spotted one. However, it was cloudy by the time we got there and my one and only photo was not very special! We spotted the first dragonflies up there that we have seen this year ...and yes guess what, it was brown! The brown hawker does have some bright highlights though which I think you can see even if it was a distant shot!



In the garden, a family of thrushes arrived in our absence and proceeded to eat all the contents of my cherry tree, we did grab a bowl full first though ;) Now they have moved on to the rowan berries. The really nice thing is that we had our windows replaced at the weekend. The old one's were so bad that we could barely see though them and now the clarity of our garden visitors is amazing. The process itself was rather painful, the fitters arrived in the pouring rain and requested that I move my car. I moved it down the road and someone promptly reversed into it. Meanwhile, as I was running around like a headless chicken, I stepped out of a different door to the norm and my knee gave way and the other foot slipped. I think "sack of potatoes" spings to mind! So whilst my bruises are there to remind me ~ I have slowed down a little this week.
At least we have seen a little more sun in the last couple of days and hopefully if it brightens up, the flowers will respond accordingly. The buddleia is just coming into flower and is always a good butterfly magnet. Meanwhile the honeysuckle is looking pretty.

Percy - A Rescue Dog Portrait

Percy is the second of my recent portraits and is a rescue dog. There are a few indications that he has not had the easiest of times up until now and it is good that his last few months have been spent in a much more settled environment and he is now a loved pet.



This one was also completed in coloured pencil on Murano paper. I am using my Faber Castells much more of late, particularly for furry subjects. I still may tweak with it a little but, I think it has captured his character pretty much.

Meanwhile since we got back from our holidays it has been quite a happening time! It looks as though I will be "retiring" from work next March, so will be on the lookout for something part-time for next year! I am not altogether unhappy about this, it has been looking likely for some time.
The weather has been pretty awful which has curtailed our photography but, on the up side, I have been sorting out some unfinished projects from before we went away. I think it would be nice to have a little sunshine soon though, the forecast is for another wet week and it is a little wearing especially as my Skiathos friends all keep talking about heatwaves!

Edit as at 21/07/11. Well I did say that I was likely to tweak and when I looked a little later, I thought that it lacked depth and too much of the blue paper was showing through. So here is an update:

Skiathos Cats & Some Art!

There are always a number of cats to be found on Skiathos like many islands. I suspect that many are there to keep vermin down. As such, they tend to be quite feral looking and hungry! It is rare to see a fat cat on the island, they are generally of small build, quite wiry and incredible eyes even those that are domesticated. I know that there is a problem, some kittens are simply abandoned. In some ways the tourist season doesn't help. So many people feed them and of course without hunting skills, left to fend for themselves in winter, I suspect a great many of them die. However, the Skiathos Dog Shelter is making inroads into finding homes for abandoned animals and has a program to neuter as many as they are able. Skiathos Dog Shelter Long term of course this is best.

I do try not to feed the cats on the island preferring to support the many fund raising events of the Dog Shelter. However, much though I try, sometimes one sneaks under my radar.



In fact, this one I suspect is well cared for. It is a bit of a nightmare for taverna owners who try to keep them off the table and then as soon as they aren't looking they descend on us daft holiday makers!



One of my friends in Skiathos was found on the beach by her cat and whilst I was there she requested a portrait of her and her rescue dog. I was going to put them both together but, there are always problems with scale with this. Sometimes, it is easier to show them in the individual light that they deserve. So here is Piccolina hot off the drawing board.

Skiathos Butterflies, Dragonflies & Other Strange Things

Last year, I started to keep records of the wildlife in Skiathos. I think this was because I once read a comment from someone who said that the wildlife there is disappointing. I can see why, I think a lot of it is not immediately obvious but, there is plenty to see although it can be a little regional. For example, I see a lot more of the dragonflies that can be found around saline reed beds in September and usually a lot more birds after the first rains. In June, butterflies are more prevalent and my species count is between 30 and 40 now. I have to wonder how many others are about at different times of the year.



Cleopatra

It is the first time in June that we managed to get to the North of the island which are where all the fresh water running streams are to be found. I have previously written about the Magic forest and it's magic just keeps growing. The numbers of damselflies and dragonflies was amazing. Beautiful demoiselles were everywhere together with dragonflies that I have never seen before.



Small Pincertail

I took my macro and the sheer numbers of some things meant that at time, I was just getting silly!



as you can see.........
I feel almost spoiled now I that I am home because I could see so many unfamiliar insects in an hour that I almost got accustomed to it. In the UK, this area would be protected as a site of scientific interest just because of the diversity of wildlife. Wood whites, white admirals and Graylings are at every turn.
A couple of years ago I spotted a Lattice brown and was so hoping to see one again while I had my macro lens.



Lattice Brown

I have also always wanted to see a golden ringed dragonfly and at one stage I counted four patrolling down the stream. It took till a little later before I managed to catch one at rest.



One day we spotted this huge flying insect that looks a lot like a very big damsel in flight. That was one of those "what the heck" moments, it was about 4 inches across. It took a while to identify this one. Apparently, it can give you a nasty nip if you get too close!



Ant-Lion

As you may have gathered I am still researching some of it but did manage to ID this hairstreak as an Ilex.



As far as mammals are concerned we saw rabbits, a beautiful hare and another hedgehog this year. I suspect that we will be finding new things on this island as long as we have the funds to continue to visit!
There are more wildlife images over on Andy's blogtogether with some beautiful scenic shots here

Eating Out in Skiathos

I am still working on hundreds of wildlife images and also I have finally got around to starting a wildlife journal of many of the birds, butterflies and dragonflies seen on Skiathos. I think it will be a long term project because it is fast turning into a book although a few of the highlights will follow shortly.
This time I thought that I would share some of my most favourite places to eat out. There are hundreds of tavernas in Skiathos and they all offer a wonderful menu but here I shall just list a few. These are my top four personal favourites from our last visit although I do of course have others!

The first are two very simple places, I am pretty certain that on the island they are called kantina’s .The beauty of these two is the freshness and simplicity of the food and their location.



Kastro is one of the boat stops and gets very busy but we tend to choose a windy day to visit when it is a little quieter. I have mentioned it before, it is very rustic but the food produced from that small building is amazing. It is run by an interesting character named Apostoli and his wife cooks the meanest omelette I have ever tasted! The views are not too bad either ;)



The other one is in Kechria and is very much favoured by the Greek people. Once again, it is a limited menu but I love to spend an hour or two here simply eating and watching or maybe having a beer. It amazes me how here in the UK so many places serve up frozen chips but not here! They also serve fish, Gavos and a delicacy that all the locals seemed to enjoy, sea urchins. I confess I wasn’t that brave. It is situated right next the ancient forest which is teaming with wildlife and the meadow is awash with butterflies.



The next two are more sophisticated venues and both struck me as a real cut above the norm. Both of these were new to us this year and we will definitely return to both of them.

Lyhnari is run by Dimitri and Anne who both take a real pride in the restaurant and quite frankly, it shows. All the dishes looked wonderful , the variety is exceptional and I can honestly say the fish that we ate there was the best we have ever tasted. I also love the décor of this place, it is simply so pretty. This is a photo taken just before it opened!



If you do visit don’t be mislead by the empty tables, it is well known and very popular. In fact, I would suggest you go so far as to book if you want to visit here. We went on two occasions and it was packed both times. I can understand why!
Lyhnari Website



Secondly, we also found Olive Land up in the mountain. The view is spectacular which overlooks the south east of the island and you can see for miles. One of the things that struck me here was simply the table. The tablecloths and plates are all co-ordinated with olive leaf designs and it is all set out beautifully with sparkling polished glasses.



Even more importantly, the food is also delicious. There isn’t a huge menu but it seems that they always have a special in addition and I can vouch for the slow cooked lamb.



Olive Land Website

Sadly, most of these places are pretty inaccessible with the exception of Lyhnari which is in the town. You could probably access Olive Land by taxi but the kantina’s are on the North of the island and a four wheel drive is probably the safest option. Taking out car hire has transformed the island for us. It means that we really do get to see some of the loveliest places on Skiathos. So our thanks must also go to Odysseas, Tonya and George for the excellent service that they provide. I always worry about car hire in other countries but, these people are so trustworthy and Odysseas speaks such good English that it makes it all very easy. I cannot recommend them highly enough (well except that Odysseas is a bit of a tart, LOL)
Skiathos first Rent car Bike

A Quiet Corner of Skiathos

We have been off on our holidays for a couple of weeks, once again to the beautiful island of Skiathos. This image was taken very early one morning on Vromolimnos before the crowds arrived. I love the gorgeous morning light, as a friend once described it ~ the golden hour!
I hope to keep that sense of peacefulness at the back of my mind over the next couple of weeks as I now have some catching up to do. As a result of our visit, I have a myriad of projects (which are all nice things), lots of personal administration (not so nice) and of course back to work! My "to do" list is pretty huge and I am still in Greek mode! However, perhaps that is a good thing and what holidays are all about........tomorrow perhaps ;)