Sketching in the zoo

Now winter is almost over, it is time again to go out to the zoo and go sketching!
These are the results of last weekend:

(click to enlarge)

Tiger in pastel

Finally I finished this portrait of the tiger - it must have been in my 'on my desk' column for some time now :)

Tiger • pastel • 20 x 20 cm

Click to enlarge

Sketching in the Zoo

Last saturday we went to the zoo, to catch up and to sketch! Too bad the tiger twins didn't show themselves, but all the other animals were lovely models. Here some sketches, and at the end some photos I took.

(Click to enlarge)

Robin

For some time I've been working on this project: a painting of a Robin. It is done in waterbased oil, and it's the first animal I've done with this medium - and I liked working with it!

I used one of the wonderful nature pictures, made by Helma. Thank you for letting me use the picture of the robin, Helma!

Waterbased oil, 400 gr/m2 canvas, 20 x 15 cm

Click to enlarge

ATC Page (and a visitor)

I love working on ATCs! In a reasonably short period of time, I can put a furry portrait on this small piece of paper - and in exchange I get some beautiful art from other artists around the world!

This time I did a portrait of Page (referencephoto by Daisyree Bakker) and it will be traded with this wonderful horse. Page is now on his way to Finland!

Last weekend I did some 'wildlife' shooting in our own backyard and I managed to get this boy/girl photographed.

Click to enlarge

My sketchbook

Finally I found some time to scan some of my sketches I got in my sketchbook.

The first compilation is what I did in Avifauna (bird park) I went last week. The second is what I did in Burgers' zoo (just a few days ago). And yes, you might say that I have a certain interest in birds ;)

Both pictures: click to enlarge

Birdpark Avifauna

Yesterday we've visited a birdpark (we = some fellow artists and me). Of course we've seen lots of birds and we've been sketching a lot.

One of the fun attractions was feeding the Lori birds (see picture of a Lori, no - I did not add colors in Photoshop - they really have those wonderful colors!).

Lori

I took a lot of pictures at the birdpark. If you want to see a selection of them, follow this link and press the > button to scroll through the album. I still have to scan the sketches I made.

ATC Dolphin

Another ATC...
An artist contacted me after visiting my blog and she read that I did some ATC's. She asked if I wanted to trade and if I could create a dolphin for her. And I loved to do that. Here the finished version:

Dolphin - ATC#2012-004

2,5 x 3,5 inch

Here is the link to the ATC it is traded for [link], I can't wait to receive it!

Swan

At class, I had some time left after our exercise. Since I didn't bring much material with me, I decided to do something quick. A swan, done in charchoal and white pastel, on grey paper. Format: about 12 x 12 cm.

Click to enlarge

Robin

Finished this week in class: a watercolor of a little robin.

I am not sure if I should have made that background so dark...

Click to enlarge
Format: A4
Reference photo by D. Bakker

AW: Dance of the jellyfish

Like I wrote in my last post, I visited a zoo last weekend. At the aquarium there was a tank with jellyfish, because of the current in the tank, they were floating around - like a dance!

Sketching in the Zoo

Last Saturday I went to the Zoo (again) with some fellow artists to practice our sketching - and what is more fun than animals in the zoo?

Here two sketches and one photo I made, if you want to see more, just follow the links below!

Click to enlarge

For more sketches: click here and press the button to the right to see the next one.

For more photos: click here and press the button to the right to see the next one.

Enjoy!

AW: Hummingbirds and Kitten

My SIL made this lovely movie in her backyard: I love these hummingbirds, just buzzing like bumblebees.

And yesterday, on World Animal Day, the auction started for raising money for a cat shelter. You can find my donated drawing HERE (number 250, 'Playing with Blue'), or take a closer look at the drawing here.

HAW!

Back from Peru

Yesterday we've arrived back from a wonderful trip to Peru. 

We've seen the most amazing things: Machu Picchu of course, some other (pre)Inka sites, Titicaca Lake and its floating islands of Uros... and so much more. 

Here just a preview of the pictures... we've made more than 1.500 so it'll take a while to sort them out and put them in an online album.

(click to enlarge)

Machu Picchu

Cute little Alpaca

AW: Sketching in the Zoo

Last Saturday I went to the zoo with some fellow artists, to practice our sketching. Luckily the weather was OK, not too hot and almost no rain. It was much fun to do and we all agreed to do this more often.

Below just a selection of my sketches (all done with permanent ink and watercolor), if you want to take a look at all of them, just visit my sketch-album.

(Click to enlarge)

Next week it is my blog anniversary. For those who have missed that post about how I want to celebrate this, click here for the give-away

AW: little swallow

Last weekend, when we were baby-sitting my parents-in-law's dog, I went into the barn to see if the chicken had laid some fresh eggs. In a flash I saw something sitting on a shelf, next to me. I turned and it was a tiny, young swallow. He didn't go away, just sat there, watching me. I could come up very close with my camera while it's parents where flying and squeaking around my head. HAW!!

Click to enlarge

AW: Spoonbill (part II)

I'm working on some larger projects (take a look on the right side of my blog, under 'On my desk') and I just wanted to create something small. So I did an ATC of the spoonbill I told about two weeks ago. Was fun to do, a small piece. It is done with sepia acryllic ink and sepia watercolor wash.

Click to enlarge

AW: Zoo

Last weekend me and some friends went to the zoo. I took a lot of pictures, but I don't want to bore you with that ;) But I do want to share a video I made of a small bear, playing with a stick and his foot - he was adorable!

Enjoy and Happy Animal Wednesday!

AW: Spoonbill

Finally some time to post something for AW!!

Last weekend we went out for a walk. Near our home, there are waters and a swamp-like piece of nature. We saw a big bird in the water... it turned out to be a spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)! I've never seen one in 'the wild' here in the Netherlands, only in zoo's.

Click to enlarge

AW: Hummingbird rescued

Last week my sister-in-law rescued a little hummingbird - such a cute and little animal. I find it so amazing that in such a little creature everything is there: heart, lungs, stomach... just everything!! 

This post is for my sister-in-law (and her husband of course): I just want to tell that she is amazing with animals and that she is always helping them, just like after Katrina, when a lot of animals were abandoned or lost their homes. She gave them shelter or has given them a good new place to stay. Some of them are still in her little 'petting zoo'. And now this little guy...

Click to enlarge