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Wednesday 1 August 2012

Magpie Mania!

I was going to paint a barn owl tonight but it was getting late so I decided to do something just for fun - not that painting the barn owl wouldn't  have been fun, just wanted to spend a bit more time with that one and paint it when I wasn't half asleep!  I recently moved into a new house which is more in the centre of town rather than surrounded by fields and unfortunately this has meant that the variety of birds I get in the garden these days is much less - but that's in hand, I'm working on getting them in, planting a couple of trees etc.. ..... they're about, we've seen goldfinches flying overhead - they're just not visiting - but of course I get plenty of pigeons and magpies!  Not everyone likes magpies do they?  Yet I find them quite charismatic birds, always lively, always there to brighten up a dull day - and pretty intelligent too -  but they're just black and white people say - look a little closer and you'll see the sun picking out some gorgeous bluey greens in their feathers - so that's what I decided to paint tonight.........a magpie!



and just so I don't bring anyone any sorrow I painted another!

Two for joy!
and no I didn't spill my paint pot over them as my children would say (they are my worst critics and don't get the loose style!!)  the splatters and drips are meant to be there !  - after all it's just for fun!!  (mind you not keen on the big drip off his wing, wish I'd left that one!)




29 comments:

  1. Sharon, I love your magpies! Wish we had them here in Southern California, but no. :-)

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    1. Thank you Sherry - what types of birds do you get over there?

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  2. They are happy characters aren't they? You've caught that cheeky glint in the eye!

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    1. Yes they are cheeky characters, always up to mischief it seems!

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  3. Fabulous paintings, Sharon! I have them in my garden occasionally, their colours are beautiful.

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    1. Thank you Judy I'm glad you like them, I've altered the 2nd one as I thought it looked like he'd been shot in the wing so I lifted out the drips lol!

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  4. Love these magpies, really lovely painting, the loose style works very well!

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    1. It's funny I don't always know when I start a painting if I'm going to paint it loose or more detailed but it just seemed right to go with the loose style with these - and of course because I was tired and wanted to do a quick painting before bed!

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  5. I love magpies. They consider to be one of the most intelligent species in the animal kingdom. And I love the loose way you painted them, it serves them right. After all, they are very loose and confident themselves.
    Warm regards.

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    1. Thank you Konstantina, I'm glad you like them - they often get accused of being devious because of their intelligence!

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  6. You capture that lovely iridescence you see in magpie plumage. Great images and I love the splattering and loose bits. I had a conversation with a friend of mine recently and we decided that looseness, splatter and texture were valuable ways of depicting air and atmosphere as well as being the basis for viewer involvement/ interpretation. Splash it around.

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    1. Glad you like the splattering Mick - not everyone does! I like your philosophy on splatters - depicting air and atmosphere, yes I can see that and leaving things to the imagination, I certainly will carry on splashing it around! Thank you Mick

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  7. Sharon, I love watching Magpies, including yours especially with the slatters! They seem such characters, I don't understand people who get all funny about them! Good luck with attracting more birds to your new garden (can't wait to see the Barn Owl when it come to fruition).

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    1. I'm so glad all you people love magpies as they do seem to have such a bad name - but the fact that they do just makes me like them even more! Hoping to start on the barn owl tomorrow !

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  8. Oh, I do so wish I could draw well! I remember my art teacher said in a school report that I had a very good eye for colour. I have always wondered if she was just being kind or if perhaps she got me mixed up with someone else ;-) anyway, I love your blog, except I've gone a funny shade of green! I particularly like the portrait of Cali, just beautiful!

    The Magpies are great too and very entertaining birds to watch. As you said very intelligent!

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    1. You should give it a go! You never know til you try, there's loads of tips and advice online or in books and dvds - just have a bit of fun and see what happens, I've only recently started drawing and painting again since I did art in school and it's the best thing I ever did!

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  9. Hello Sharon:) I love Magpies. Have you ever seen how they fight with each other to find a place in a tree to build their nest? How they feed their kids? How many time they fly out to find some food for them (you get tired waching them!) They don't walk but jump on the ground. Pick big stones to let them fall on people or cars!! And indead they have beautiful colors if you take the time to look at them. This are beautiful birds!! Just as beautiful as you painted them. Love the last one. Good choise to give them some attention!!

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    1. thank you so much renate, it's so nice to know that lots of people do like them and think them worthy of attention!

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  10. Magpies are so naughty! But I do love them too. I once had one that coaxed our kitty up a tree, all the way to the top. The bird flew off and left the kitty there. She had no clue how to get down, so I had to get the ladder out. Naughty Magpie!!! Yours are beautiful

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    1. that is very naughty Marji! Thank you for dropping in, good to see you here x

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  11. These Magpies are painted beautifully, Sharon! I love how you "throw" that paint on. The splatters work well! love it.

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    1. I do love splatters but I have to be careful I don't get too carried away with them!

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  12. Both are wonderful, Sharon! Beautiful loose style, yet plenty of detail. I also find observing these birds very amusing.

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    1. Thank you Blaga - great to see you here and thank you for your lovely comments

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  13. Both versions are fabulous. I like the show of looseness in both.

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    1. Thank you so much Cora - have a lovely weekend

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  14. Hello Sharon:) .....I have a very stupid mistake created. I was confused with the Crow. Well, I like them both. They are both beautiful birds:)

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  15. wow i love these two magpies, your style is fabulous and works so well with the subject, just beauiful...

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  16. These are amazing! So loose!
    Michelle

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I love hearing from you, thank you so much for leaving a comment - I will always try to leave a reply and pop over to visit your blog if you have one - although sometimes I may be slower than others, have a wonderful day xx