Chaffinches have always been one of my favourite garden birds - I painted a female chaffinch not long after I started this painting lark which will be 2 years in December - where has the time gone?
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| Female Chaffinch © Sharon Whitley |
I did this next one last night - and the details on the wings took me a while but I wasn't happy with it - felt it was a bit boring and didn't show much character......
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| Chaffinch © Sharon Whitley |
so this morning I got the paints out again and did this looser version which I prefer....and it took me a fraction of the time! Gary prefers the boring version though so at least my time wasn't wasted.
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| Chaffinch © Sharon Whitley |
Thank you sooooo much to Brian Rafferty and Sharon Williamson for offering their gorgeous Sparrowhawk photos for me to use as references - it's really appreciated, I still haven't seen my Sparrowhawk back in the garden :-(
As always I really look forward to your comments and would be interested which of the two recent paintings you prefer - boring version or loose version lol!
I love them both! you have captured the colours and character of these fabulous little birds so well! They might be very common and a lot less colourful than their African cousins, but I have such a soft spot for them!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I prefer the loose version, as you say it shows character. That said, I do like all your versions, but I am someone who prefers loose work.
ReplyDeleteHmm... well, I'm not quite sure... I like them both!! The first one is a proof of how skillful as an artist you are and the second one is a happy proof of how creative you are... but I think I'll choose the one on the top of your post, because it has a sentimental feeling :)
ReplyDeleteWarm regards.
Both have their merits and I'd be happy with either but pushed to make a choice it would be the painterly second version.
ReplyDeleteBoth are great pieces Sharon but I agree the loose one has the character and is unique, for my too much details and tightness likens them to photographs and I like that individual quality that only a loose watercolour can bring
ReplyDeleteHmmm ... I like the background in the top painting, the detail in the middle one, and the looseness and the claw of the bottom one. They are all marvelous!
ReplyDeleteI prefer the looser, though they are all fab for different reasons.
ReplyDeleteand for ref photos, have you tried morguefile - they're copyright free too. x
I think both versions are fab!
ReplyDeleteHello Sharon, what a gorgeous painting. Both paintings have Some spaecial, but my favorite is the last one. Felicidades. Best regards
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have a way with birds, Sharon. I'll sit on the 'perch' here and say I like all three, they are all very different and super in their own way. :) ~X~
ReplyDeleteI am so enjoying your birds..
ReplyDeleteWow, wish I could paint either versions as well Sharon........they are great and both have merit, but I definitely love the looser version.
ReplyDeleteLove the whimsical paint splashes, it appeals to the creative side of me....
CLaire :]
I like both interpretations.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous birds Sharon! Tighter and more loose, both nice!
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