Here comes the sun

I've got to add this blogpost, just to show off some great photos -

No not mine, but our daughter's photography achievements yesterday

Over the last year or more, (Lil) @EMHydephotography

has been trying to capture photos of Kingfishers

All the rivers, streams and, in fact, anywhere she could think of, or heard about, she would patiently go on a hunt.  Sometimes she would find one, but it would be way off in the distance and disappear as quickly as she saw it.  You know what kingfishers are like, little darts of colour that fly off at the speed of light.

SO YESTERDAY

Lil heard about a spot by the river,  and she waited  7 HOURS!

to get these

I think it was worth it don't you!

Of course, she had her little companion Hamish with her.  He enjoyed the outing and ran in the river, splashed about, met others dogs to play with and generally had a great time.  But after 7 hours, the little chap was exhausted and had a snooze whilst Lil photographed....

                                                                                                      ©EMHydephotography

~ Have a good weekend all ~ 

Kingfisher Tutorial

Here goes with a tutorial I have of a Kingfisher.  I have been lucky enough to actually see one of these little chaps for real in the wild in the New Forest (Hampshire).....

I loaded my Kolinsky No. 6 with lots of paint being -

Prussian Blue

and started with the beak and head working down from there
 

Leaving bits of white paper here and there.  With the brush loaded with paint,  I could complete the initial shape of the bird

whilst this was still wet I added a stronger mix (less water plus a little Neutral Tint to slightly darken) and dropped this into random areas

With Sap Green/Prussian Blue mixed I put in the branch

continued by

adding  Burnt Sienna to the front of the bird and a little Light Red/Burnt Sienna mix for the feet

 

 

At this stage it is left to dry 

So when it had completely dried I loaded my Kolinsky No. 4 brush (it has a fine point for detail) and with a mix of Prussian Blue and Neutral Tint and added to the beak - then the eye (note I left a bit of white for the highlight there)

then added paint to the area behind the eye and down on the wing

and there you have it

one

Kingfisher Tutorial

which I hope you have been able to follow and have enjoyed