Watch as I turn my experiences of watching great crested grebes on their nest into a lifelike painting of their secret, wild lives.
Great crested grebe
These water birds are among the most striking in the UK. I've been watching a breeding pair on their nest and now I'm ready to paint their portrait.
My painting process
I start by blocking out the background colours. I'm using a wash of green and browns to represent the rippled surface of the lake where they nest and the nest, which is actually a floating structure of sticks and branches. Then I carry my board across to my easel where I draw the outline of the grebes… two adults and two chicks, with coloured pencils.
Building up in blocks of colour
Now, I add the basic colours to my family of grebes. I start with the darker sections then begin building up the lighter colours. The chicks have striped downy fluff for camouflage and a unique bare spot on their forehead. Known as the ‘crown patch.’ This is an interesting anatomical feature since it actually flushes red when chicks are hungry or distressed. I decide to include it. Adding detail With the base colours in place, I start to work on details, bringing out the highlights of the beaks, feathers, and even the chick’s fluffy down.
Understanding the animals
My experience of watching the grebes is so important at this stage. It’s vital to have a deep understanding of the animal to highlight the intricate features. Final touches After months of work, my the painting is complete. I enjoyed watching these birds so much and it's great to see them come to life again in a painting that captures my memories forever.
