'Morning Call' (Wren) © Tracy Hall 2011
1.75" x 2.75" watercolour on board
Above is my latest miniature of a wren (shown enlarged with a ghost penny for scale). They are such lovely little birds and what they lack in size they make up for in volume! It was fun to paint.
This weekend is the latest Big Garden Birdwatch organised by the RSPB, one of the largest wildlife surveys in the world and now in its 32nd year. Just take an hour if you can on saturday or sunday to make a note of the birds you see in your garden or local park then visit their website to record your results -
"With results from some 280,000 gardens helping us create a 'snapshot' of bird numbers in each region, we've been able to see that some of our birds are disappearing in scary numbers. We've lost more than half our house sparrows, and three-quarters of our starlings, and your results have certainly helped highlight these dramatic declines. However, it isn't all doom and gloom - these surveys might help us spot problems, but more importantly, they are also the first step to help aid a species recovery."
I think the birds must know about this event as they usually seem to stay away from our garden in their droves for the entire hour, but I'm going to do it earlier this time when they will (hopefully) still be busy at the feeders.
Finally, some birds that will definitely be in the garden over the weekend, here enjoying the sunshine this morning...although I don't think they really count:
.jpg)
14 comments:
Hello Tracy, this little wren is beautiful and so are your hens and chickesn. Fun to watch I'm sure.
A very sweet wren in an interesting setting!
Dear Tracy,
Thank you for the lovely work and the interesting and witty post. You're a guardian angel for birds.
Cheers:),Sadami
Tracy, your miniatures are all so exquisite and this one is no exception - just beautiful!!! :)
How sweet this little one is! Tracy, as always, I just love the textures of the wood and rocks! This one definitely put a smile on my face!
What a pretty wren! And you did such a masterful job on that tiny little beak! I know how hard it is to get a tiny little line to show up in a painting - especailly the yellow ones. You did great Tracy!
Your paintings are Great!
How beautiful your painting is of the little wren. I love your paintings. I have a question. You enlarge them for us to see on your blog. I have never seen a miniature painting. When people look at the originals, how much can they see if they are so small?
I suppose that question is stupid but I really want to know. And why would you paint so little if you can paint so well. Why not big for everyone to see?
I am so curious.
Thanks so much everyone, I'm pleased you like this one it was great fun to paint.
Bernie I really hope you can get to see some miniature paintings in real life one day as they are completely captivating and speak for themselves.
Wonderful though the internet is, it really doesn't do justice to them which is why I tend to show them enlarged. In reality they are much clearer and sharper and you certainly don't need a magnifying glass to enjoy them!
It is just fun sometimes to use a magnifier to appreciate the fineness of the details and has certainly helped me to greater appreciate the skill of other miniature artists.
I have nothing against painting larger - I do a lot of commercial work which is much bigger - but for me there is nothing quite so satisfying as painting in miniature. They are not faster to paint, they require all the same skills and more. A good miniature will hold your attention from a distance and you can't resist being drawn in closer...hopefully enjoying it more and more as you do so. Its what miniaturist Wes Siegrist calls the 'wow' factor!
If you would like to find out more I would highly recommend a visit to his website http://www.artofwildlife.com/ which is packed with information about miniature art (as well as some amazing paintings).
Hi Tracy,
I'm here from Bernie's blog. I wasn't at all prepared for how much your work moved me - I think I was expecting something cute. Birds are my favorites of God's creations, and your paintings make them even more special. I'm so glad to have found your site.
I too have come over from Bernie's blog. Carolina Wrens are my favorite little bird and one look at your lovely painting made me want to see more of your creations. Loved the videos on your sidebar.
Well thank you Deb and Wanda, its lovely to see you here and I'm so pleased you like my work!
Hello Tracy
very great work!!
j'adore ce bas de porte et l'oiseau y apporte une touché tres poetique
Alain from Bordeaux
Merci Alain pour vos commentaires! J'ai aimé vos peintures aussi, et je suis heureux que vous avez visité mon 'blog'. Excuse, s'il vous plaît, mon français mauvais :)
Post a Comment