Snipe Snap

Last month I invested in a new lens for the camera, pretty extravagant of me – I know, but it gets me closer to the subject. I’m always torn between the merits of painting wildlife from sketches or painting from photos, I tend to do both – but the paintings from the photos always turn out better... maybe it’s just down to lack of imagination? I have tried sticking previously sketched birds into an already painted landscape such as ‘A Few Ansers’, below, sometimes they look good, but more often (not displayed) the subject and the landscape don’t match – whether this is because of the subtleties of light or lack of reference material I don’t know – but it generally ends up being sanded down and another coat of gesso being applied... This was the result of one of my most recent paintings – of a pair of Snipe in some reeds, which I sketched at Leighton Moss.

 "A few Ansers" Oil on canvas 18"x14"

 The sketches looked perfect, the watercolour mock-up looked good, but when I came to the real deal – it looked ok, but not good. So off I went, back to Leighton Moss, in search of more Snipe... unfortunately I found them, photographed and sketched them, and returned and matched my sketches and my photos to what I had already painted, and there it hit me – what I had imagined was a good likeness of a bird I now know intimately (!) was in fact a hideous lovechild of a duck and a curlew... Out came the sander and the gesso... Although I still wanted a record of the Snipe, I resorted to the use of a photo! I painted this little chap from a photograph; I am ashamed to admit... why do I feel so dirty?

"Snipe" Oil on Board 8" x 10"

 

 At least I have come clean and got that off my chest. If anyone is reading this, the snipe are still there, visible from Tim Jackson’s hide, Leighton Moss RSPB reserve, Silverdale, Lancs; a fantastic place, our family from the youngest to the oldest loves it. And inspiration is always there... Mind you the camouflage of these little blighters is so good, it does take some effort to see them.

Incidentally ‘A Few Ansers’ sold for 2 crates of beer! Both myself and the buyer were very pleased!

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/leightonmoss/