Tyto Strix is a northern nobleman and scout heir to the marches along a hotly contested border. His eyes are almost like black coal and his unruly hair is an ice blonde complimenting the wintery steppes that he calls home.
I'm always crossing the woods in the winter (safe from ticks) to discover happenings--animal movement, tree life and so on. Came upon this scene just recently, two trees that fell together during a wind event.
Painted original (watercolor on watercolor canvas) about 15 years ago. Wasn't satisfied and so I put away forever. Except, not forever. Have started a project of revamping old paintings that were not quite right, and that now seem salvageable. This was the first. Worked on it for a few minutes a few days a week for a few months, never going too far. Goal was to improve not recreate. Kinda having fun with this new project. Artists tend to do this, take a new tact, find a new route.
Page from winter art journal. Used micron .01 pen. I try to draw quickly--partly my temperament, partly about staying away from focusing on every detail.
I started this oil painting in Feb 2020, and finished it in April the same year. I guess it's a tribute to Welsh beaches in winter - miles of sand, and barely anyone around.
A Female Pied Flycatcher Ficedula Hypoleuca…
The Pied Flycatcher is a summer migrant to the UK.
As the name suggests, it feeds on flies that are caught by making a quick dash from an obvious perch. There are around 40,000 pairs in the UK each summer. The Pied Flycatcher is a small unmistakable bird that often sits with drooped wings. It spends its winter in Africa.
Identification:
Adult
Adult males and females share the same plumage pattern but are different colours.
Male Pied Flycatchers are small and chunky,13cm in length and are black and white all over, they are quite unmistakable.
The upperparts are black and white, tail is black with white base to outer tail feathers, rump is a slightly paler, back is jet black, wings are black with white wing patch (tertials)
The nape and head is black except for small white patch above the black bill. Chin and throat white, extending to form a half collar.
The entire underparts are white, ie; chin, throat, breast, belly and undertail coverts. Legs, bill and eye black.
Females are brown versions of the male although tail is dark, no obvious white patch over the bill and the collar is less distinct. #piedflycatcher #brd #birdart #birdartist #birdsketch #birddrawing #bampidraws #birdlovers