Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Today's little study flew off the brush.  It's a broad-tailed hummingbird - very similar to the ruby-throated hummingbird found in the eastern United States.

288 - Broad-tailed Hummingbird

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

SOLD

New Zealand Teal

I'm not sure if this New Zealand Teal is the extremely rare Pateke (Brown Teal).  I saw the bird at The Kiwi House in Otorohanga, south of Auckland.  My artist friend, Lindsay Scott, lives a few hours south of me in Tawharanui where she has the Pateke breeding on her property, so I'll ask the pro what she thinks!

New Zealand Teal

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

US $85 plus $7 shipping

SOLD

New Zealand Falcon

Sometimes, keeping my studies simple is like pulling hen's teeth. This little guy didn't take me any longer than the other studies - but the detail happened in spite of me fighting it all the way.  As I keep saying, the purpose of my studies is to become more painterly - to say more with simplicity and brush work. Two steps forward and one step back. I know many collectors love detail but by the time many artists have been painting for 30+ years, we want to say more than detail has to offer.  I want to paint mood, light, color......which doesn't require more brush strokes but rather saying more with each brush stroke.

This is a New Zealand Falcon.  They're found in most parts of New Zealand but are considered an uncommon endemic.  Endemic = a species that is natural or native to a specific place.  I've seen a few but the harrier, an abundant native, is most likely the bird of prey that you'll see in New Zealand skies (or on the roads)!  I see them flapping madly trying to lift a dead possum or hedgehog off the road before getting run over.  Consequently, I've seen quite a few flat harriers on New Zealand's highways.

285 - New Zealand Falcon

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

US $85 plus $7 shipping 

SOLD

A Welcome Swallow

New Zealand has a wonderful little native swallow called a Welcome Swallow.  I'm not sure how it got its name but I like to think that the little Welcome Swallows that I see zipping around outside my house, are welcoming me home.  They're very similar to the Barn Swallow of North America but the Welcome Swallow's tail isn't as long and glamorous.

284 - Welcome Swallow

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

US$85 plus $7 shipping

SOLD

283 - White-faced Heron

Today's little 5" x 7" study is another New Zealand species, a white-faced heron.  It's a small heron - about the size of the tri-colored heron in North America.  I see many more of them than I did when I lived in New Zealand years ago and my bird guide says they're 'an abundant native'.    I've seen them in a variety of habitats: along the coast, amongst the mangroves and in paddocks.  They're cute little guys!

283 - White-faced Heron 

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

US $85 plus $7

SOLD

A Tui

Today's little oil study is a New Zealand tui, one of my favorite birds!  They're nectar eaters so are commonly seen on the flowers of the flax when it is blooming.  They have a beautiful liquid song.
The tui is difficult to paint.  From a distance it appears black but when you're viewing it up close, you see the iridescent green and blue (and some brown) on the bird.

  

                             282 - Tui                                   

    5" x 7" oil study on board,  unframed.  US $85 plus $7 shipping. 
SOLD

A Pied Stilt

Today's little oil study is a 5" x 7" of pied stilts, a New Zealand species, similar to the black-necked stilt found in North America.  I see pied stilts and oyster catchers on the beach near my home in New Zealand but they're also found along rivers and pastureland, as with the black-necked stilt.

281 - Pied Stilt

5" x 7" oil study on gessoed board

US$85 plus $7 shipping

SOLD

Bob

I love painting cows!  This little guy is named 'Bob'.

Bob

7" x 7" oil on gessoed panel

SOLD

Field Sketching

Whether you're into painting birds or people, sketching is so very important in your growth as an artist.  I've got lots of sketch books that I've kept while travelling but not many of birds and animals other than those critters that stand still for a very long time, such as flamingo, stilts, etc.  I recently discovered Youtube and have been using it as a resource for sketching birds.  Rather than stop the video,  I sketch the birds while in motion. The beauty of using youtube is that you have a second chance to get it right by replaying the video. These are some of my quick studies done from youtube.  I wouldn't use youtube images for finished paintings that you plan to sell as the images are protected by copyright.

I use a soft pencil - sometimes a ballpoint or fine-line pen and I try hard not to erase.  If I need to smudge or soften a line, I use a kneaded eraser.  As we all know, the more you do something, the better you'll get - so becoming better at field sketching moving birds, is my new goal.

New Zealand White-faced Heron

Poaka

New Zealand Pied Stilts

Kereru

New Zealand Pigeon

I'm Teaching a Watercolor Workshop on Tiritiri Matangi

There are 3 spots open for my watercolor workshop this coming weekend, March 2 and 3rd, near Auckland, New Zealand.

I'm donating my time to teach the workshop to benefit Tiritiri Matangi, a sanctuary for many of New Zealand's native birds.  The predator-free island is just a short ferry ride from Auckland.  We'll spend the first day hiking on the island with several guides, observing birds in their native habitat.  While the guides tell us about the birds, I'll chat about gathering reference (taking notes, sketching and photographing) as preparation for studio paintings.  If time allows, I'll do a quick watercolor demo before heading back to the mainland on the ferry.  The following morning, we meet at a classroom in Birkenhead and will spend the day painting birds.  I'll do a demo in the morning, then you can paint the same bird as me (I'll provide the reference material), or you can bring your own photographs and paint your own bird.  I'll spend time with each of you while you're painting. In the afternoon, I'll do another demo - then you paint until quitting time at 4 pm.

If you are interested contact:  Mary-Ann Rowland at sotmmanager@clear.net.nz.

If you have any questions, email me or give me a call at 09 402-5014.