Getting there

 

I want to develop my skills in painting wee watercolours of birds before heading to Scotland. As you can see I have finished one of a currawong that was sitting on a post outside our kitchen window (above); and the second is a butcher bird that was sitting on top of a flagpole facing the sunrise - hence the breast bathed in an peach tone (below). Also below is a photo of my getting Megan's assessment of these two works.

I have started a couple more - a wagtail singing on it's tree perch; and a kookaburra sitting on a large dark light shade.

I'm planning to continuing my boat and building watercolours as well as birds in the time we are in Scotland - I think I'm on track.

Morning moon and wildlife

 

As the title says this post has a bit of a few things: the moon, wallabies and birds. First the moon - really mostly about the moon set to the west (above and below). Below - setting moon in a sepia-blue toned sky.

And a predawn navy sky to the east - below. 

Early morning avocado munching wallabies - one female with a rather large joey in the pouch.

Gentle pale headed rosellas

Foraging wild ducks.

Some early mornings offer an abundance of beauty.

Wee watercolours - new series birds!!

 

I have completed another two wee (postcard size) Scotlands inspired watercolours - coo and abandoned boat - based on my photos - see above and below.

Under Megan's tutorship I have started to do wee (10cm square) watercolours of birds based on photos I have taken - with background removed of course - see below.

I think I'm going to enjoy painting the birds as much as I enjoy the boats, buildings and coos.

Bits and pieces

 

Over the last week I have done quite a few bits and pieces  - marking off the to do list before heading off to Scotland - including filing new edges on my stone carving chisels - above.  You might recall that in August-September last year I indicated that I had wrecked most of my stone carving tools attempting to hand carve stone cottages for the exhibition at Strathnaver Museum. The photo below shows the typical damage done. Though I tried different mechanical ways to create new edges and sharpen the chisels, the thing that worked best was a small diamond file.

I melted pewter to increase my ingot stock.

Finished making product for a market in Scotland

Made some timber forms for vase carving.

Serviced and attached a small antique vise to the work bench

And made some birth-name leaves .

As I have said in the past - art can involve many tasks.

The difference a half hour makes

 

The cold, clear dark mornings do offer some benefits such as the starry starry morning this morning above and below.

Though the colour and star show is short lived as you can see from the photos taken a half hour later - below. The first photo below is taken looking west away from the sunrise - lovely pink and blue tones

As I walked the sun began to rise and colour the sky in orange.

And at the kitchen bench a wee rainbow entered the house to bring another fragment of joy.

Cards - inspired by Scotland for Scotland

 

Fiona has printed about 30 cards (see range above) from a selection of my Scotland inspired postcard sized watercolours. Printed cards spread out on the dining room table.

Photos of the individual cards follow - bit blurry as the photos were taken with the cello bags on - I didn't think to photograph them before adding the cello bags!!!!

I think the cards have printed well - with inkjet printer on 300gsm Fabriano paper. These cards will be available for sale atat least one market in Scotland. 

Request for product

 

As the title of the blog post says I had a request for a range of my leaf related items including Leaf-spoons, Leaf Tea Caddy Spoons, Leaf Knives-spreaders and small patinated copper leaves. Leaf-spoons and Leaf Tea Caddy Spoons above.

I managed to get them done during the week and delivered them this morning. So I will see where this goes in the next little while. Some photos of each of the items follow.

A few process photos are included below.

It has been a while since I have made pieces for a local outlet.