Thursday, April 15, 2010

A Swallow

I've decided I like painting birds and am going full steam ahead (well, full steam in between everything else), and putting together some good old South African birds.

This is a Swallow.  He lives somewhere around here because the picture was taken in the Paarl area just outside Cape Town by fantastic photographer John Kennekam.  John has kindly given me permission to paint some of his birds and boy, does he have a lot to choose from.

Hope you like this little fella even though I picked up a bit of glare on the blue!


Maree, who is totally knowledgeable about these things, has pointed out that this is a Swallow, not a Sparrow!  Oops!  Thank you Maree, I just know he is a really pretty bird!

44 comments:

Rhonda Hartis Smith said...

Liz,
You have such a talent for painting birds! This sparrow is so lovely. . . looking forward to seeing more birds.

Saundra Lane Galloway said...

I love this sparrow Liz! the head is an awesome color. I've been enjoying birds of late too...I was gonna wonder if it was the coming spring...but you are headed for winter aren't you...so, we just must like birds period! HA. Love this one!

Marie Theron said...

Liz, I agree with Rhonda, your birds so far has been outstanding. They are soft and gentle and seem to be breathing. Go for it!

Anthony Duce said...

I like your birds too. They are so painterly done. You give them a personality.

Avocaken said...

I really appreciate how well you painted this sparrow - I tried to paint a picture of a local Red Tailed hawk and it looks like it has fur, not feathers. Long story short, I enjoy the hawks from my backyard - not on canvas! :-)

A tip of my hat to you. (Again) EXCELLENT WORK!

Ken B.

Lori Bonanni said...

Very nice sparrow - I like the soft colors and painterly style!

Dean H. said...

Great looking painting! Your sparrow over there is quite different from our Ohio sparrow.
I love painting birds also. My interest in birds goes back many years.

Janelle Goodwin said...

Lovely sparrow painting, Liz!

Peggy Montano & Paintings said...

Yes, I am impressed. Lovely.
I just have not tried birds, I am not sure I can capture their beauty.

SharonWrightArtist said...

Just beautiful!

Prabal said...

Looks like you really enjoyed doing this, because this is great.. The simple background just adds to the beauty of the painting...

RCB virtually in semis.. I am praying hard for DC..

Crystal Cook said...

I absolutely love this bird! Even though he's still you've captured a lot of movement and grace. It's beautiful!

Manon said...

I do love the little fellow and I don't even see a glare on my laptop!! Great work!

Art with Liz said...

Thank you Rhonda, I am enjoying them.


I think Saundra, definitely a bird period. period. (By the way, we say fullstop!) And yes, the weather is cooling down now - lovely brisk early mornings.

Art with Liz said...

Thank you Marie - I know you must see hundreds of them out your way - lucky you.


Hi Tony, thank you so much!

Art with Liz said...

Hello Ken! I hope you show us those hawks you've done - fur or not! Thank you for your wonderful comment.


Thank you for the kind words Lori!

Art with Liz said...

Ah Dean, whenever I paint birds I think of you and your wonderful birdie portraits. You are inspiring and I thank you. By the way, some of our birds are really pretty, but have the most awful voices!


Thank you very much Janelle!

Art with Liz said...

Dear Peggy, I try everything whether it works or not, so I hope you do try birds one day! My plein air work is pathetic, but I still do it!!


Thank you so much Sharon!

Art with Liz said...

Gosh Prabal, thank you. I do enjoy painting animals, but hate painting anything fussy in the background - hence the plain backgrounds.

I don't think Deccan are going to make it by the look of things, but I am thrilled for the Challengers even though they played terrible cricket three days ago! The last game was so much better, but dodgy umpire calls! Poor Robin. It's getting really exciting now!!

Art with Liz said...

Hello Crystal, thank you for visiting and I'm blown over by your incredible work, so your comment is even more appreciated.


Hi Manon, thank you so much. You must have anti-glare on your laptop as there's a definite shimmer on my pc. Luckily it's just on the background.

Anonymous said...

Precious! :)

Prabal said...

Liz,

Thanks for your comments on my sketches..

Back to IPL. Deccan just have to win their next 2 games to be in semis. They are having good momentum too. I think they will make it. Today's match is at Dharamshala.. A ground in the Himalayas with snow capped mountains for the backdrop. I just cant wait..

For RCB Steyn is in awesome form.. He has been dominating in last 3-4 matches. His bowling was superb in all these matches though rest of RCB did not play quiet well except for the last one of course.. But I think they have sorted out the problems and ready to take up any challenge unlike Mumbai Indians who have not been in difficult situation till now. If they are put to test they may not find a way out.

By the way since one month I have been learning Kalari, an ancient martial art form of Kerala, India and Capoeira. If we meet sometime I can teach you these and you can teach me tai Chi. :)

Autumn Leaves said...

What a gorgeous painting, Liz! To me this one could be in an Audobon book. Somehow you've captured the delicacy that I see in birds. He looks so soft...Funny that our sparrows are pretty tiny and all browns with spots of black. Interesting to see the different breeds (yes, we do have dogs and I haven't a clue what to call this in bird lingo) from one nation to another. I recall someone showing a painting or photo of a robin and it looked much different in their country than they do here.

Anyway, this little piece is just beautiful!

Arti said...

Hi Liz , the bird is wonderful..I find painting birds difficult but thats not the case with you!Your birds have character and beauty!Great one.

Tereza said...

Hi Liz

He is just lovely!! the shine in his eye, and the little claws. Lovely detail. Yes, you do seem to have a talent for painting birds.
Well done!
Tz

jyothisethu said...

liz,
beautiful sparrow...
i liked the color, the soft effect on the belly which i felt like touching..
also the innocent look on the eyes...
congrats...

Celeste Bergin said...

Liz, I just read your profile in the side bar --(nodding in recognition) I too was in advertising for many years. Well, I love your bird--I think that advertising, though probably the goofiest of all careers, held us in good stead. Communication art is art, no matter what "they" say. Your bird is super-fine!

Maree Clarkson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maree Clarkson said...

Hi Liz, what a BEAUTIFUL sketch! The colours are perfect! But would you mind terribly much if I pointed out that this is a Swallow? Either Lesser or Greater Striped, depending on the area. Your rendition is unmistakable! And I just love your birds, you obviously have a special talent for them!

Gwen Bell said...

I always love your birds...loose yet retaining the delicate detail. Lovely!

Ramesh Jhawar said...

Its truly a nice piece of work Liz! Keep it going! Love this fella!

Art with Liz said...

Hi Sherry, thank you and I made an awful blunder as Maree pointed out - he's a swallow not a sparrow - I just locked onto the 's' and made my own thing up!! I had to look up Audobon and it looks like an amazing organisation you have there. So again, thank you for the lovely compliment. I will try and find a genuine sparrow to paint.


Hi there Arti and many thanks. Sometimes I think ignorance is truly bliss because whenever someone says to me ' that's so difficult to paint!' I think, but I didn't find it so bad. Go ahead and try some of your indigenous birds - you may surprise yourself!

Art with Liz said...

Gosh l.a.r.k. I almost missed your lovely comment. I tried to get into your site but was stopped - will try again later.


Thank you dear Tereza. Am still waiting for your details!!!

Art with Liz said...

Thank you so much Sethu.


Hi Celeste! I must admit that although I am thrilled to be out of the ad world, I did have fun. It is a great (even if a little pretentious) profession to be in. And yes, you're right, it was a great grounding for the rest of our lives!

Art with Liz said...

Gosh Maree I am so embarrassed! Thank you for pointing that out to me - as you can see, immediately corrected. I don't really know my birds, just that I love all creatures great and small - will have to borrow my sister's Roberts the next time to check!!


Thank you so very much Gwen! A wonderful compliment from you.

Art with Liz said...

Thank you so much Ramesh!

JRonson said...

Oh the bird is powerfull, bright colors and with a sense of complementarity :) good job

Barbara Pask said...

This is wonderful Liz, love that bit of light on his front. Birds are fun to paint and you have done a perfect job on this little guy.

Michelle said...

Hi Liz, You bird is beautiful! Funny, I've been on a bird painting kick lately! It must be because of Spring!

Art with Liz said...

Thank you so much JR. He is rather pretty isn't he!


Hi there Barbara - thank you for a really lovely compliment!


And thank you Michelle. Saundra Lane Galloway is also on a bird thing at the moment - as you say it must be Spring, although it is Autumn here. Hope you post your birds!

Marian Fortunati said...

Nicely done, Liz! Looks like he's ready to fly off at any moment!

Rosemary said...

Love this little bird! Nice composition and color palette! You do have a talent for painting birds and it's going to be wonderful seeing more varieties from your beautiful part of the world! Am looking forward to the next one!

James Parker said...

Sparrow or swallow, this fellow is super. Liz, you do have a talent for painting birds, and I hope to see more of them.

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

There is not much left for me to say that the previous 44 people have not already stated. So, I will simply say, yes Liz, you have a wonderful way with these birds and obviously we all love the results. More, please!