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Saturday 6 October 2012

Chaffinches

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?  

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......

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. 

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!


14 comments:

  1. 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!

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  2. To 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.

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  3. Hmm... 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 :)
    Warm regards.

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  4. Both have their merits and I'd be happy with either but pushed to make a choice it would be the painterly second version.

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  5. Both 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

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  6. Hmmm ... 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!

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  7. I prefer the looser, though they are all fab for different reasons.

    and for ref photos, have you tried morguefile - they're copyright free too. x

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  8. I think both versions are fab!

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  9. Hello Sharon, what a gorgeous painting. Both paintings have Some spaecial, but my favorite is the last one. Felicidades. Best regards

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  10. You 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~

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  11. Wow, wish I could paint either versions as well Sharon........they are great and both have merit, but I definitely love the looser version.
    Love the whimsical paint splashes, it appeals to the creative side of me....

    CLaire :]

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  12. Gorgeous birds Sharon! Tighter and more loose, both nice!

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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