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A quick study of a barn owl, dozing in the morning sunlight - at the top end of the Titchfield canal path, Bridge Street. This willow hole clearly has what it takes for such purposes, for years now it has been employed for owly snooziness not only by barn, but also little and tawny owls. I feel a linocut coming on...... 
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Finally caught-up with two of The Haven penduline tits, albeit briefly - I always want more. Time enough though to gather a few shapes and form some ideas for future paintings, as the brighter coloured male displayed and fussed around a non-plussed hen.   Just started to look again at the hares in the Meon Valley.....they can't help but leap onto the pages of the sketchbook....  Cracking views of Franklins gull on Saturday. Bobbing about on Ibsley Water, five miles distance, among twenty seven thousand gulls, in the dark........ earth stars were really smart though.    It was nice having a long distance traveller on the doorstep at Titchfield Haven recently. A sandy coloured, peachy-rumped Siberian stonechat in the company of some twenty common stonechats. I love this group of birds, visible - mainly, playing out their lives on the top of bushes, as opposed to skulking in the middle of them. The perfect artist's model. Having said that, it took several vists before I made any useful notes on it - bad light, too much wind(!), leaves on the line, catching up with old pals...... you know the sort of thing. She? (pale throat, no sign of dark ear-coverts) spent most it's stay zipping around, fly-catching in an area of cut meadow, avoiding it's slightly larger, bullyish cousins. Wandering down on the last day of it's sojourn, we noticed a silhouette bobbing and tail-shivering on the top of a 'house' (mansion) neighbouring the reserve entrance. Surely a black redstart and so it was, making the most of insect snacks drawn out by the warmth of the day. Red admirals, migrant hawkers and common darters were not such a surprise to see on the wing, but a pair of brimstone butterflies flying in courtship outside our window as I write, is surely a little bit optimistic even in this weather. A Forest fungi hunt beckons this weekend - might even put the correct name to one for a change.........naahh!  Recently I was delighted to be commissioned to make a small artistic contribution to the concept that became the new visitor centre at Lindisfarne. Told mainly through the words of the island people, the visitor is taken on an evocative introduction to life and wildlife of this incredible island. Brilliant design by www.cda.uk.com Wonderful words by www.telltale.co.uk supported by superb photos by Laurie Cambell, all make for a warm and welcoming encounter. All photos Peter Phillipson.             Popped up to Winchester at the weekend, to see how the 'Water Vole Trail' interpretation panels we put together for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust turned out. Arriving at the city we were greeted by a stunning red kite drifting low over the car. Pretty chuffed with the panels too.     Rosie has itchy pants today as she has been distracted by various WW2 aircraft flying around the house, in preparation for tomorrow's DDday events.  Later that day - even itchier.   Next day - off the Ricther scale.   The day after the next day - mmm!  Defintion - Clean boot.
Three days of your life that you will never get back.......  Milton Locks panel - Gill Armitage Just a quickie to post some of the stuff we're up to whilst nailed to the desk. We have been developing new branding and interpretation styles with The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. The Milton Locks panel is one the first to sport the new look. And we've contributed several paintings to a wonderful new book - Drawing and Painting Insects by Andrew Tyzack. Apart from ourselves, it hosts the work of many other professional wildlife artists. http://www.nhbs.com/drawing_and_painting_insects_bkfno_204435.html That's it for now.  |
AuthorIf you're expecting words of wisdom from Dan and Rosemary you may be sadly disappointed. However, if you want to keep up to date with our current projects then pick up the feed at the top of this column. Archives
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