HOME | DD
grind-the-rust — Fairy Wrens for Grandma
#azure #birds #blue #couple #cute #flight #fragile #giftart #golfball #songbird #tiny #wildlife #wrens #australianbirds #couplecute #superbfairywren
Published: 2016-07-11 14:27:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 548; Favourites: 36; Downloads: 2
Redirect to original
Description
Basically what it says on the can. Mom's flying out to visit my nan in Russia, so I painted her a present. She's pretty unwell, so I don't know if I'll get to see her again or what. Anyway, here's some wrens. I love fairy wrens. There's heaps of them on campus, and they look like hopping feathery golf balls with wings and tails.I haven't touched my watercolours in over a year. Or painted or drawn much. I'm not even sure if I painted the female of the right species. As you can guess, I'm no ornithologist. Also, their feet are a bit manky, but I did those five minutes before running out the door, so I forgive myself.
Sorry I've not been around or replying to anything. Been in a bit of a stupor for the better part of a year, courtesy of work and life - with a broken scanner, no less. Scanned these guys at my folk's place. (Dad thinks the male wren has "a manly look in his eye". Hilarious.) Anyhow, I'm not dead. Just exhausted. I'll be back.
Watercolour on textured paper, done in a hell of a rush. Scanner naturally mangled the colours. Fullview is, as always, recommended.
I eat feedback like the protomolecule eats radiation, so fire away with anything and everything. Should I jack the contrast and saturation up on this thing a bit?
Related content
Comments: 14
I see nothing wrong with the feet. I don't know about the male bird having a "manly look in his eye" either, but it sucks nature doesn't make the females as colorful.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
It's beautiful, the choice of using watercolours was great - it really brings out the fragility and ethereality of those little birds. Contrast and saturation would make it more vibrant but you would lose the subtlety of the detail and shades, which is one of the things which makes this picture. I think the feet of the bottom wren are lovely, they look elegant and suggestive of twigs almost. The top one I agree are a little bit flat looking, however even more suggestive of branches so you could claim that as an artistic flourish. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
*grins from ear to ear* Heh, you know what - I'll take your advice! From now on, I'll proclaim that their little feets were intended to look flat and twiggy to all and sundry. Thanks for the kind words.
Also, one day I'll figure out dealing with the contrast and colour problems created by the scanner. One day, but not today!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thank you for the compliment.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Excellent. The rusty color for the background looks great. I feel like the contrast and saturation work really well for this one actually.
And your dad is right. That male wren looks like a real bruiser. haha.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Good to know about the contrast and saturation. The original picture was a bit more colourful, but jacking that stuff up on the computer just makes it look...odd.
Also, someone told me the "female" might actually be a male of a different species. Go me. Try to paint grandma something "wholesome", and end up giving her a picture of a male-on-male interspecies romance. *smiles* And she will never know.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
haha. On the bright side that could be a fun new game - seeing how much debauchery you can work into an outwardly "wholesome" looking image. And then giving to grandmas.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Absolutely stunning! I wish I could have done something like that on a rush, let alone with watercolors (which I suck with). The light strokes of and the sharp yet gentle lines made by the brush just give it a perfect "avian" vibe and atmosphere.
Forgive yourself completely, because this is amazing
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you, as always.
Oh, I'm incompetent as all hell with doing watercolours "properly", using the right brushes and only layering a couple of washes as per the rules. I'm guessing the trick to watercolour is to ignore all received wisdom, and just slop paint around in a bajillion layers until it looks right. I did the feathers with this really stiff former eyeshadow brush, that has bristles poking in every direction - I'll be screwed where it comes to doing hair or feathers if I ever lose that thing. So yeah, the trick to doing fluffy things is a shoddy old brush with fine but stiff bristles that clump a bit, dipped in just a wee bit of paint.
It felt so, so nice just to paint anything at all after such a long hiatus. I really hope I get more free time soon to paint some more stuff.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I think that the proper way to do ANYTHING is to ignore all received wisdom and let your intuition, skill, experience and instincts jump in XD
I'd be the last person to figure out what tool is required for what task, and water colors are by far one of my bigger weak points XD
And well, the fact that this drawing is amazing is proof that eye shadow brushes are as good as any brush.
I can imagine how fun and relaxing it is to work as gently as you can, repeating your brush strokes ever so lightly till you get the needed effect.
it really makes me want to try water colors again for a bit
Can't wait for your next work.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Hey, I'm glad to see you on here again! Have been worried and hoped you were just busy with life. I hope you can find some time to rest and recover.
I hadn't noticed this facet of your style before, but I enjoy it a lot. The angular, confined shape in the background and the round, fluffy birds protruding from it and breaking its borders make for a nice contrast. Now I'm not a visual artist, but I personally feel that this is contrast enough, and the somewhat muted colours work well here. I can imagine this hanging on the wall in a cozy café or half-timber house. I'm sure your folks will love it!
Sending my best wishes to your nan. Mine passed away in December, and I had wanted to visit her the month before, but she cancelled due to her and her partner being sick. I dearly wish I could have said goodbye to her. My fingers are crossed that your nan will get better and you'll be able to meet again.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
