From Tim Wootton's Studio (1 Viewer)

[timwootton]

. . .

It's been a mixed bag of weather today, but around lunchtime it managed to get positively balmy (about +5 degrees) so, after dropping off the illustration for Special D to Yorkshire, naughty old me went for a stimulating drive around our island. B100dy marvellous it was too. I watched a flock of 70 common gulls picking up flotsam in the titanium white surf above a part of glistening eiders further out in the bay, their legs visible in the illuminated crystal water - lovely. I made a drawing of this great black-back when I got back home - he was just hanging around.

 

[birdboybowley]

Tim, I can sympathise wholeheartedly with the amendment thing....i've been working on a fieldguide to Melanesia for what feels like a lifetime and there's nothing worse than producing a layout and then the author wants changes made to shapes etc....if he didn't live in Oz I think I could've strangled him sometimes!
Nick, the whole jizz thing too - I can't stand illustrations in guides that are just the same template with different colours in it....so I refuse to do it, it's lazy. And that leads to more arguments...!! Ah, illustration, the only plus side is that you get paid as soon as it's finished and don't have to sell it! Still, I don't think it bears thinking about what an hourly rate I'm on.......no, best not go there!!
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[nickderry]

Good to see some sketching on here again. I don't know how you manage to observe so much in a flying bird. Superb forward motion on the GBB.

 

[timwootton]

Good to see some sketching on here again. I don't know how you manage to observe so much in a flying bird. Superb forward motion on the GBB.

Cheers Nick (and I know this is a somewhat rhetorical question, particulalry looking at the life and jizz you get into your drawings), but I do an imprint (whatever that may mean) - But what I try to do is look at the bird and try and fix a certain pose in my mind's eye - then quickly onto the paper without trying to check back for reference. It may not be what's actually there, but it's my impression of waht's there. I then make several versions and see which come closest to how I think looks 'right'.
Here's a similar thing I did a while ago, on the sketchbook thread.
http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=60184&d=1159780753
It only really works for me on slowish moving birds (and ones I know fairly well, too). Fleeting glances are just no good - I need a good long stare at the thing.

I appreciate your comments Ads - and very good luck with the illustrations! If you get chance (and are allowed to, copyright etc.) Could you post a couple of spreads? Please? eh?

 

[peter mathios]

fantastic insight and drawings!!! Sorry 'bout the illustration, but it all worked out in the end (hopefully I thought it was incredible the way it was.

 

[Gill Osborne]

I thought it was incredible the way it was.

Me too! :smoke:

Tut tut - some folk are just TOO picky!!!!! And there was me clearing an entire length of the living room wall to put it up on seeing as it was 'unwanted' :-O

 

[cjoakley]

Love the sketches Tim...glad you managed to get out and clear your head...let's all have a drink to the back end of the Yorkshire Illustration...

Oh - that sounds a bit 'Ripperish' doesn't it?

 

[birdboybowley]

Hey Tim

As soon as I've gotten a bit more out of the way I'll start up a thread and post some of the plates for ya so as not to clog yours up!
Gull flight sketches very very nice btw...
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[birdpotter]

I was wondering the same thing about your flight sketches, Tim. I went out this weekend with not enough time to do much of anything, but I did watch a few Gulls, with sketchbook out and wonder how the heck you do it. I think that is how I would do it, if I had the time. I love watching birds that are familiar to me, it gives me so much information for later work. It also helps my work with comparisons when watching other birds that aren't so familiar. Does that make sense?
Oh, and glad I could paint a mildly disturbing picture for you! B

 

[desgreene]

Brilliant flight sketches Tim, really helpful to see the guidelines and wind direction markings. I've been trying to do some of Magpies recently and they are bl**dy dreadful!

Des.

 

[timwootton]

. . .

Look forward to seeing your new thread Ads - ought to be superb if your previous posts are anything to go by!

Cheers Peter, Gill, Beth and Des (and anybody that knows me ) When I next go into battle I'll give you all a bell beforehand!

Whilst writing in the conservatory (with, ahem, At The Races on sky - just for background noise, you understand) a few great black-backs were wandering through the sky over the ouse. Made a few thumbnails fro reference (which I'll probably never do anything with).

 

[buzzard12]

Look forward to seeing your new thread Ads - ought to be superb if your previous posts are anything to go by!

Cheers Peter, Gill, Beth and Des (and anybody that knows me ) When I next go into battle I'll give you all a bell beforehand!

Whilst writing in the conservatory (with, ahem, At The Races on sky - just for background noise, you understand) a few great black-backs were wandering through the sky over the ouse. Made a few thumbnails fro reference (which I'll probably never do anything with).

Super flight sketches Tim, this and the last page posted. You have these etched into the left side of the cerebellum I reckon, proportions are just right on these birds.(..or should I say beasts!)

 

[dryslwyn]

fantastic insight and drawings!!! Sorry 'bout the illustration, but it all worked out in the end (hopefully I thought it was incredible the way it was.

Me too- have been keeping up and enjoying the thread!

 

[timwootton]

. . .

Cheers Wendy!

Whilst still fresh in the mind's eye - if not the eye itself, on to adding a bit of colour wash to lift the drawings (newly worked versions of the fieldwork - or 'conservatory-work' to be precise).

 

[cjoakley]

Really lovely Tim...and the wash certainly does lift the gulls...wonderful stuff!!

 

[nickderry]

effin' marvellous!

 

[birdpotter]

effin' marvellous!

Couldn't have said it better!

 

[desgreene]

Love the gulls Tim!

 

[peter mathios]

Beautiful! especially the reflective light on the bottom gull - nice touch!

 

[Peewit]

Hi Tim

That picture of the gulls is really, really good o

I love the effects of the gulls, against the blue of the sky (or the wash). It is although you can see the gulls expressions as they are flying.

An all round action packed artistic package at its best. o

Well done :t: