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pallanoph — Resplendent Magpie
Published: 2010-10-27 04:21:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 21846; Favourites: 1113; Downloads: 0
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Description
Apologies for my lack of response, activity, etc. I've quite a lot on my list that needs doing soon, aside from the list of commissions.
I've not been terribly wise with my time, let's just go that route. 
This is a piece that was done surprisingly quickly for the annual art sale held at my college (MCAD) each November. I didn't have any "leftovers" or other works that I felt could be sold, so I decided I'd get some painting done proper. Besides, somehow buyers know if a piece is old, and I've never sold old works. Odd.
Probably has something to do with them being terrible, ha.I confess that, despite never having encountered one in real life, I love magpies. Such beautiful birds, and with such mischievous personalities! People tell me that my opinion of them might change if I had to deal with them on a day to day basis, though I'll counter that by saying I've dealt with some pretty loud and annoying birds myself. (Nesting colonies of grackles, anyone?)
I find myself fond of birds in general. 
For those of you who remember (not likely anyone, I don't think) I'll still be uploading my own magpie-like species at some point in the future... that is, once I have more important work finished/in progress!
This was painted on a cross section of basswood with acrylic ink (sepia), watercolor, and acrylics. The wood texture is... fun.
But I like the final effect. Size is roughly 11 x 15" (28 x 38 cm).Art © April Schumacher
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Comments: 178
^^ I've got a small woodburner myself, done a few dabbles here and there. It's definitely fun, and the smell of the wood is nice-like a natural candle. 
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Those feathers look so real that I feel as thought I could touch them.
I must compliment you on the feet. many people forget what birdy feet look like and the magpie has those grasping hands!
I don't often see them but when I do I am always startled by their amazing colors. So stark especially on gray mornings
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Thanks very much! I must confess I'm still trying to get the hang of bird feet... I have no idea why they baffle me so. (I need better references!
I'd still love to see these gorgeous birds in person. Perhaps someday.
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Absolutely beautiful! Well done!
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This is badassss, I've never seen a magpie, this makes me want to see one P:
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This is beautiful! Magpies are one of my favourite birds, I see them hopping about alot where I live, they're so much fun to watch
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We have magpies all over campus here and I absolutely love them. They always manage to cheer me up with their antics, especially during nest-building season. In an analogy-type story I wrote some time ago, the magpie is the sense of humor (their calls resemble laughter somewhat).
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I would like to think I'd find a lot of joy in being surrounded by magpies. 
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I love so much magpies!!!!! I had one of them on my window right this morning
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Thanks, dear! 
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you dont have magpies? DDD: where do you live?
i know magpies have a reputation of stealing shiny objects, but they're really not bothersome at all. at least not compared to seagulls x3 really, they don't harm a soul and they never come closer than a few meters. other birds steal the food out of your hand, but i really don't see why people have anything against magpies.
this is beautiful btw.
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Nope, they don't come this far east... I live in eastern Minnesota.
I think magpies sound lovely. We get a fair amount of seagulls here, and though they are rather annoying, I haven't felt any real animosity towards them. So it must be safe to say I'd tolerate magpie antics quite well.
Thank you! Glad you like!
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oh, they don't? D:
i'm actually not quite sure how they sound, whenever i see them they're either with a bunch of crows or they're silent. i guess i really don't have the antic-magpie impression of them, i experience them as more silent and still than other birds. the day you posted this i went to the store and when i was going home three magpies were sitting at the powerline (which was pretty close because i was walking on this higher thing next to the sidewalk) and they just sat there completely still staring at me.
seagulls are rude bastards, always taking the food from other birds >: these seagulls at least xDD once we were eating outside on the balcony and one of them came right down at our table and stuck its beak in the butter.
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Nope! But I hear one can find them if they live closer to the Dakotas.
I've heard that version of them, too. It would seem they can get really watchful and quiet when people are nearby. I hear they can be very cheeky over in Europe!
I was in Chicago with my family once and we were eating lunch in one of the parks. Bad idea! There were pigeons and sparrows of course going for the crumbs on the ground, but the seagulls were TERRIBLE. I'm ashamed to say we got a bit of a laugh at one of them who took more than he could handle... looked like he was going to choke on a pizza crust. He managed it in the end, though.
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i live in norway xD
i wouldn't mind seeing their cheeky side sometime x33
pf, that's so typical seagulls. by the sea you often see seagulls flying up and down, falling down to the water repeatedly because they ate a fish that was too big. they're so greedy.
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I love magpies, they're beautiful.
We have a couple of them in the neighbourood, they've never caused trouble. ^^
Great drawing.
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Beautiful drawing! Love the pose
Magpies's my favorite bird<3 They're so funny to watch and soo pretty @_@
Though I see them everyday, I never grow tired of them
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Gorgeous birds they are, We've got them all over here in France, and even though they are noisy, they are beautifull.
Arent' there any in the states? Wow.
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From what I can gather, they must live throughout Europe... which makes me envious.
They live in the States, but mostly in the western half of the country.
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They are everywhere here! You should come to Europe once!
I must say that they tend to be underated due to their commonness and noisyness, not to mention their thieving reputation.
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oh I love magpies xD! you did a great job!!
they're such a beautiful creature. just like other black&white animals do...
They are good omen in Korea! korean people believed that they bring a good news.
still, so many people consider magpies as the national bird of korea.
It's really common. I can see them almost everywhere. ..so now they are a bit problematic. xD
They are so clever and bold just like ravens...
5-6 magpies can drive out cinereous vulture xD
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Wow, this is amazing.
We get magpies round here all the time, my cat once had a standoff with one over a mouse, but they are very beautiful
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Brave magpies! 
They are quite beautiful! I hope to see one up close and in person someday.
And thank you!
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I love that pose. It's so.. phoenixish. Magpie is my favorite bird and it's great that someone else sees them too as beautiful creatures instead of trashbirds. Must be faved..
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Wow, I like how much contrast you have gotten into the art even though it's painted on wood! Beautiful work as ever, you're slowly converting me to like magpies... xD I'm so envious of those wings, I want to draw them that well too
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Hehe, you must love the mischievous magpies! 
I practically destroy myself each time I try to do wings. I've been drawing them for ages, and somehow they still stump me. It's incredible!
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Magpies are perhaps one of the most common birds here in Sweden, and hated by many (my parents included)... But I love them! 
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This is amazing. I've never seen a bird like this.
We have very beauiful magpies over here. A friend came over from America and he loved the contrast.
[link]
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Oh, there are lots of magpies around where I live (even though I've been changing countries and cities quite a lot, they always managed to be there!). What I think people find annoying is when they are nesting, but I've never had nesting magpies close enough to hear them. Just to see them and to wish for a camera with a better tele-objective so I could take photos of them without them ending up being "where is the bird?" search photos.
Otherwise, I really like the background branches! Oh, and the bird itself of course as well. But I think it's your branches that make your paintings of birds so much different from all the other birds out there!
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They're pretty widespread around Europe, aren't they? Over here in the States, they're mostly confined to the western half of the country. They don't really make it over to where I am, what a pity.
I also hear a lot of comments regarding people not liking their aggressive nature, and the fact that they are predatory has lead to people assuming they impact desirable songbird populations. (Of course, none of that has any concrete evidence that I know of.) Regardless, I think I'd still love having them around.
Glad to hear you like those branches!
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It seems they are pretty widespread. I can't really say anything about the east, but they are everywhere in the west, including Ireland.
Oh, their 'aggressive' nature. Now really, while magpies do eat eggs and hatchlings of other birds, so do others... such as cats. Nobody would think about getting rid of their cat to have more songbirds. And then again, I don't have any studies to use as evidence either.
And... you know far more about composition than you do. I just like the branches.
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That's exactly my thoughts, too.
Thankies!
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Very beautiful! Did you use something as "Base" on the wood before you started painting? (sorry for my bad english)
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No worries, I understand your English perfectly. 
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Thank you! I need to do more...
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