Summer time mural developed from observations through June and July 2015. I regularly visited the Domen Las hide through summer, this hide is a favourite among visitors as you never know what's going to come up and down the estuary. The hide looks out at the last big bend in the estuary before it passes between expansive bog on the south side and the foothills of Snowdonia nation park on the other towards the sea.
The light has been beautifully clear a number of times with bright blue skies reflecting in the still waters below. I was able to get out on the estuary bank and onto the grassy wall that juts out into the water which was such a different experience to the confines of the hide. I had some amazing close up sights- a stoat wove in and out of the folding over hanging edges of the grassy bog, they are so tiny! Goosanders would swim by with lots of backwards glances as I would be goggling back at it- a favourite bird of mine! It was necessary to spend some time 'in my painting' getting to know the light, feel of the space and how the wildlife looked and where it fitted in terms of perspective as this was a real challenge. I wanted to paint the view from the ground for a more intimate view of life on the estuary.
The trees were ringing with the calls of fledglings. Nesting close to the hide and frequently spotted were Dunnocks, Blue tits, Great tits, Chaffinches, Pied Wagtails, Grey Wagtails, Stonechat, Woodpeckers and Song Thrushes, to name a few, often stopped by. A pair of Oystercatchers nested on the wall directly in front of the hide and for the first time in three years successfully hatched two chicks. Canada geese were numerous, I loved watching them preen, the young were perfectly in sync in copying the parents. A large group of young Goosanders stopped by to rest and preen- so they had to be featured in the mural.
The mural had been looking very empty in its map out state, as I began to work in wildlife activity the scene quickly came alive, animating the landscape, making it far more exciting to paint. I'm trying to recreate a number of sightings and interactions over the couple of months with as much as I can get away with! Often in early mornings, mid to low tide this view can be a busy haven for wildlife, birds everywhere!
Summer time mural developed from observations through June and July 2015. I regularly visited the Domen Las hide through summer, this hide is a favourite among visitors as you never know what's going to come up and down the estuary. The hide looks out at the last big bend in the estuary before it passes between expansive bog on the south side and the foothills of Snowdonia nation park on the other towards the sea. 
The light has been beautifully clear a number of times with bright blue skies reflecting in the still waters below. I was able to get out on the estuary bank and onto the grassy wall that juts out into the water which was such a different experience to the confines of the hide. I had some amazing close up sights- a stoat wove in and out of the folding over hanging edges of the grassy bog, they are so tiny! Goosanders would swim by with lots of backwards glances as I would be goggling back at it- a favourite bird of mine! It was necessary to spend some time 'in my painting' getting to know the light, feel of the space and how the wildlife looked and where it fitted in terms of perspective as this was a real challenge. I wanted to paint the view from the ground for a more intimate view of life on the estuary.
The trees were ringing with the calls of fledglings. Nesting close to the hide and frequently spotted were Dunnocks, Blue tits, Great tits, Chaffinches, Pied Wagtails, Grey Wagtails, Stonechat, Woodpeckers and Song Thrushes, to name a few, often stopped by. A pair of Oystercatchers nested on the wall directly in front of the hide and for the first time in three years successfully hatched two chicks. Canada geese were numerous, I loved watching them preen, the young were perfectly in sync in copying the parents. A large group of young Goosanders stopped by to rest and preen- so they had to be featured in the mural.
The mural had been looking very empty in its map out state, as I began to work in wildlife activity the scene quickly came alive, animating the landscape, making it far more exciting to paint. I'm trying to recreate a number of sightings and interactions over the couple of months with as much as I can get away with! Often in early mornings, mid to low tide this view can be a busy haven for wildlife, birds everywhere!
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