Black on Grey on White

This wee bird is proud (I can totally relate) and relieved (food on the table tonight). Pride should be (sporadically) experienced, savoured, shown-off. Pride is a good (in healthy amounts) it is proof of self-respect. Pride is the main content of this post. Yep! feeling very pleased with my second bird study . A few new boxes have been ticked: Better rendering of the lay of their feathers understanding the tilt of the head learning the insectivore subtleties of their diet cornering their temperament  depth (and the best box of all) hesitation dissipated: each stroke knew where to go Bird study #2 "Early Bird" Pencil on Paper 23x19 cm P.S: Postponing my artistic discovery of the bird world for a while, new (featherless) commission on the board. Before I start,  great big thank you to  Donna Ridgeway  for the use of the her fab swallow photographs.

Over on on FB I have been nominated by friend and super photographer Lyne Raff to take part on the 5 day art challenge also referred to as artchain. The objective being to post a couple of images of your art work over a period of 5 days. Loving a challenge, I obliged with three photographs I took a few summers ago. I love birds and totally swoon over birds of prey. They possess not only a perfect beauty but a gripping fascination. p.s: In turn I nominated Linda Shantz who I'm sure will rise to the challenge and enjoy showing some of her excellent work :D

Quality time takes on many facettes. New unforgetable encounters being one of them. I love birds,watch them from afar, respect them, and when it comes to swans actually the respect runs into fear... Needless to say that getting "up close and personal" with a beautiful bird of prey made my day. Sod's law played it's part in today's photography: my Eos spent the day with the cats and the pencils snoozing in the studio (yep I forgot it!) and it was an iphone rescue... The advantage: you all get to see the camera shy face behind the pics and the words in this blog (hi all!) Having this wee chap so close to my chest was AMAZING!!! We even had a wee conversation (or so I like to believe!) Hope you have all had a fantastic first autumn week-end with moments of precious quality time and pics to mark the occasion. Tomorrow back to the studio where a beautiful equine awaits!!!