Competition win

In addition to my artwork I also take a lot of photographs, apart from providing source material for my paintings they are pleasant images in their own right. I submitted a few for the Wildlife Trust photographic competition, and one of my images won the Reserves category and also came 3rd overall.

Depicting Brent Geese coming in for a landing it means I shall be off to the prize presentation next week.

Ducks Landing

From one of the photographs from my trip to the Nature Reserve I created this acrylic painting, I was standing waiting for my wife who was in the shop, now there's a suprise! and these three ducks came in to land, so managed to grab a quick photograph, which has resulted in this painting. A reversal really of the ubiquitous ducks flying up the wall which seemed to be the de riguer domestic decor in the 1950's

Good News

I had my post operation trip to the hospital today, for the result of the biopsy of the growth that was removed from my hand. It was a "Bowenoid Keratosis", which sounds impressive, but then it could be a plant name, what do I know!! The Good news is that is was not malignant and so have the all clear, the downside is that I am now back on washing up duties.

Tomorrow the Gresley A4 Pacific steam locomotive 'Bittern' will be passing nearby railway line on a steam speacial trip, so I shall be out early tomorrow with my camera to try and get some shots.

Photographic expeditions

I've been out on a few photographic expeditions, gaining reference photographs for some of my future paintings. First was a trip to the Bluebell Railway in Sussex which I have not visited for many years. Had a pleasant day there with plenty to photograph and followed this with a quick visit to the nearby Sheffield Park gardens, which kept the wife happy :)

This was one of the shots of a U class Southern Railway locomotive. To see more of my train photographs just click the picture

The next was a BR "Britannia" class locomotive which was on a steam special run passing through Whitchurch, on it's way from London to Bath and Bristol, I thought I was going to miss it, having got slightly lost whilst looking for a good location to shoot from and ended up driving a lot further than anticipated, but made it in time.

And Yesterday the last ocean going Paddle Steamer "Waverley" was captured as she entered Portsmouth harbour, in some rare sunshine amongst all the rain we have been having.

I hope to utilise all these into paintings in due course, in the meantime why not check out my website www.artyman.co.uk to see what other delights are available.

The saga continues

The new conservatory is progressing though I have to confess I shall be glad when the chaos is over. Been a busy week with preparations for the watercolour course that I am running. This caterpiller ws wandering across the path it is an Elephant Hawk Moth, at least it will be when it grows up, do caterpillers grow up not sure if metamorphosis can be called that. I wonder if he has finished munching in the garden?

Wildlife Activity

The local wildlife has been busy, and we had some collared doves set up a nest just opposite my bedroom window in the neighbours guttering. Unfortunately the first brood were taken by crows, they have however succesfully raised two more. The first picture is of her two youngsters both down her throat at the same time!






This is one of the fledglings in the garden yesterday.