Striated Pardalote in acrylics

This is the other painting that I never got around to painting before my holiday. I used the same background colours as the Spotted Pardalote which I think works really well.  The average size of a Striated Pardalote 9 cm and weigh around 11 grams.

Striated Pardalote measures 6 x 4 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Patrick Kavanagh for the reference photo.

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Pink Robin ACEO in acrylics

I couldn't wait to  paint the Pink Robin I saw at Liffey Falls so here he is. They are not found in Queensland - they are only found in south-eastern Australia and are listed as Vulnerable in New South Wales. They are a lovely little bird - I was really lucky to have come back to the car park just when he was admiring himself in the car's side mirror otherwise I wouldn't have got any reference photos.  They move too quickly in the forest.

Pink Robin measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

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European Goldfinch ACEO in acrylics

I had this one all ready to paint before I went on holiday but never got around to painting it - I had a few computer and mobile phone problems which threw my painting schedule out the window

I saw quite a few of these birds in Tasmania - they were introduced to Australia in the19th century.  I wasn't able to get any good shots of them around the accommodation I was staying at but I did visit a zoo in Richmond and they had an aviary with different finches and one of them was the Goldfinch. Managed to take a few good photos so I am planning on painting another one but it will be in a larger format with a more detailed flower background.

European Goldfinch measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Kev Chapman for the reference photo.

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Bluebells ACEO in acrylics

This was the last painting I painted before going on holiday - needed a break from the details of the birds.   Rather pleased how it turned out. Looking forward to painting again - need to go through my photos from my holiday and print some out that I can use as references.  The view from the Deloraine accommodation was lovely - overlooked farmland and a lake so will have to paint that scene.  Also, managed to get a good reference photo of the Richmond Bridge which I am already thinking about painting plus I can't wait to paint my Pink Robin and fairy wren.

Bluebells measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

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Many thanks to Terri for the reference photo.

Spotted Pardalote in acrylics

I loved painting this one - it just all seemed to come together.  Really like my background colour too.  I am also going to be painting a 6 x 4 inch Striated Pardalote with a similar background colour - just ran out of time to paint it before going on holiday so will paint it in the next few days.

Spotted Pardalote measures 6 x 4 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches Watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Wayne Butterworth for the reference photo.

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Chaffinch ACEO in acrylics

I love the colouring of this bird.  They are found in much Europe, across Asia to Siberia and also in northwest Africa.  They grow to about 14.5 cm in length and are part of the finch family.

Chaffinch measures 3.5 x  2.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Kev Chapman for the reference photo.

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Flame Robin ACEO in acrylics and Holiday to Tasmania

I have been on holiday to Tasmania for 10 days and had a lovely holiday.  Saw the most spectacular tulips at Wynyard. It is the first time that they have opened up the whole farm to visitors (http://www.vdqbulbs.com.au) -  normally they grow just one field of tulips for visitors.  There were just rows and rows and rows of tulips - quite breathtaking - spent about 2 hours wondering the 20 acres.

You can experience all seasons in Tasmania as on the drive through to Derwent Bridge to see the Wall of Wilderness  (http://www.thewalltasmania.com), I actually drove through snow and it actually started to snow!!! It was a bit of a surreal experience and a highlight of the trip. 

 

 

 

Another highlight was seeing the Pink Robin as Liffey Falls - I saw one walking along the path to the falls, but couldn't get any good photos of it.  But when I got back to the car, there was one sitting on the mirror of another car and I managed to take quite a few shots.  Also a Superb Fairy Wren was  fascinated by its reflections so also managed to get some good reference photos of it too. So there will be a few paintings of pink robins and fairy wrens coming.

I painted this one before I went away on holiday and love how it turned out - very nearly ended up in the bin as I just couldn't get it to come together - I am blaming it on the fact I decided to try something different and paint the beak first - think I will stick to painting the eyes first and leaving the beak until last.

Flame Robin measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Patrick Kavanagh for the reference photo.

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