Tuesday, 25 September 2018

Masked weaver

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:


In winter, the males and females look pretty much the same: drab light brown. But during the breeding season the males turn bright yellow, with black mask and reddish eyes. They then construct their intricately woven nests, trying to attract a mate.

Friday, 21 September 2018

Cape white-eyes

Cape white-eyes (Zosterops virens). Acrylics on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm.


These are the archetypal tweety birds: round and fluffy and cute looking. They're quite common around here, where they move in small groups through dense foliage, looking for insects and chattering to one another.


Thursday, 6 September 2018

Saturday, 25 August 2018

Tuscan window

Oil on board, 20 x 25 cm:


When it comes to painting outdoors subjects, I seem to prefer this sort of intimate scene rather than grand vistas. Not even sure what one should call this: landscape or still life? No idea, but it is what it is.

Sunday, 12 August 2018

Ceramic and egg

Oil on board, 20 x 15 cm (= about 8 x 6 in).
Painted with a limited palette of ocher yellow, ocher red, black and white. Using such a limited range of colors makes for an interesting challenge, particularly if you try to paint green or blue things; I cheated a bit here by picking subjects with colors that could be fairly easily approximated with what I had available.