Cape turtle dove

 Acrylics on board, 20 x 15 cm:

Also known as ring-necked doves, these critters are found over much of southern and eastern Africa. They are very common around here in my neck of the woods, and their characteristic call something of a soundtrack to local scenery. Because they're so common, people hardly notice them, but I think they're rather beautiful and a worthy subject to paint.

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Laughing dove

 Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

These attractive doves are very common around here. They get their name from their call, which supposedly sounds like soft laughter.

This work is for sale. Contact me at brianvds@gmail.com.

Or go check out what else I get up to all over the interwebs!

Three spurfowl

 Acrylics on Masonite, 30 x 20 cm:

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Used to be known as francolins, but in an attempt to standardize common names, the powers that be in bird nomenclature have changed lots of bird names.

This work is for sale. Contact me at brianvds@gmail.com

Three guineafowl

Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

Two birds

 Both in acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

Black-eyed bulbul, a common garden bird around here in South Africa:

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And crowned lapwing, very common in grasslands, including parks and sport fields:

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Two guineafowl

 Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

I also run a little shop at Redbubble.

Or check out my books, if reading is your thing. 

Rooster portrait

 Acrylics on Masonite, ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches):

Trumpeter hornbill

 Acrylics on Masonite, ACEO (= 3.5 x 2.5 inches):

SOLD

African penguin

 Acrylics on canvasboard, 7 x 5 inches:

Assorted mini pictures

A bunch of small paintings, acrylics on Masonite, 65 x 90 mm (= ACEO size, 2.5 x 3.5 inches), which can be turned into handpainted fridge magnets by simply sticking a magnet to the back:

The above for sale on my Daily Paintworks Gallery.

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I rather enjoy painting these - quick, not overly serious, and they allow me to freely experiment with various subject matter, styles and techniques.

I am currently taking some time every day to upload one or two of these (plus a whole bunch of others) to my Bid-or-Buy store.

Lilac-breasted roller

Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 10 cm:

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Cape turtle dove

Acrylics on Masonite, ACEO (= 2.5 x 3.5 inch = 64 x 89 mm):

This item may be for sale on my Bid-or-Buy store. 

Red-billed hornbill

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

The hornbills have a rather strange system of breeding. They breed in hollows in trees. The opening is mostly blocked off with a plaster made of mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow opening through which the male feeds the female and her chicks. When the hole becomes too small for its occupants, the female breaks out; the opening is then resealed as before, and the chicks fed by both parents until they are ready to leave the nest.

This item may be for sale on my Bid-or-Buy store. 

White-bellied sunbird

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

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These small birds are fairly common around here where I live, in parks and gardens, as well as wooded wild areas. But they are not seen all that often because of their small size and wooded habitat. Not easy to photograph either, because they seem never to remain still for more than a fraction of a second at a time. Only the males have bright, iridescent colors; the females, like the females of other sunbirds, are drab grey-brown. They have a similar lifestyle to those of the hummingbirds of the Americas, and live on nectar, small insects and spiders.

Southern Red Bishop

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

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The bishop birds are part of the weaver family, and like other weavers, in the breeding season the males turn into bright colors, build woven nests and engage in mating displays in an attempt to attract females. In the non-breeding season, they lose their bright feathers and turn drab like the females.

Orange-breasted waxbill

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

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These colorful critters are fairly common along water courses in the eastern half of southern Africa. They're pretty small and elusive though, so usually you have sit quietly for a while before you wil see them, often in small groups, flitting from perch to perch.

Cape white-eye

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

Sacred ibis

Acrylic on Masonite, 25 x 20 cm:

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White-fronted bee-eaters

Acrylic on Masonite, 25 x 20 cm:

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Malachite kingfisher

Acrylic on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD