HOME | DD

wildartguy In reply to namu-the-orca [2012-07-22 16:47:03 +0000 UTC]

Wow man, thanks for that, very kind! I must point out that I had two big advantages. First, I had good photos to work from. I know a guy who rehabilitates Raptors and going to his place is like a feast for a birdo. Actually in the photos I have that branch is actually my hand (in a glove of course) My friend took my camera and shot a few.
Second, I learned from the modern master of bird painting, Ray Harris Ching. He's a New Zealander who lives in England and most wildlife artists I know consider him god. I certainly do, but unfortunately theres not much of his work on the net. He's a stubborn old bugger and won't look at computers. I've offered to make him a website but no, I may just ignore him one day and do it anyway, it’s a damn shame his stuff isn't better known. Certainly he taught me that a bird on a stick is stupid without some meaning or context (although when you're illustrating a field guide there's not much choice!). I know Ray would see this and tell me it's crap, the wing coverts are all wrong and have no form... he'd be right!

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

wildartguy In reply to wildartguy [2012-07-26 08:57:00 +0000 UTC]

hehe, I really need to get better at keeping my big gob shut! But my god the first time I met him he flipped through my folio going: "crap, crap, crap, thats not bad, crap, crap, I like this, crap crap...."
If you're precious and protective of your work you won't last and of course the great benefit of this is that when Ray says he likes something you know he likes it, and every single flaw he pointed out was something I knew wasn't right but thought I'd gotten away with! He has an amazing eye, just flawless, and It shows in his unparalleled work.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

namu-the-orca In reply to wildartguy [2012-07-25 08:41:11 +0000 UTC]

You're very welcome What an amazing chance it must have been to be able to learn this from the master. Too bad indeed not much is up on the net, but what I have seen on Google is amazing Haha, people say that you are your worst critic, but I guess experts or masters are even worse Oh dear, now you've pointed the coverts out to me, I can't unsee it anymore. Indeed too bad the shape is lacking a bit, though only a minor flaw in this amazing piece of art

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

wildartguy In reply to coolcrows [2012-07-20 06:38:41 +0000 UTC]

You thought it was real? Of course its real! Oh, you mean a photo, well, I was trying to make it photorealistic so you're not stupid at all, as a matter of fact I think you have excellent taste!
Thanks for looking!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

coolcrows In reply to wildartguy [2012-07-20 15:25:18 +0000 UTC]

Aw shucks im flattered ^^ No problem,your art/photos are amazing.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

wildartguy In reply to AnimeShark20 [2012-02-29 13:30:19 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Shark, much appreciated. This image is now part of iBird, the iPad field guide, and available (with 250 odd other pics of mine) from the itunes store

👍: 0 ⏩: 0