10 12 2023

 Got some time in this morning. Disaster!! At least I've been able to legitimately ask Pete to continue sitting for me.

07 12 2023

Tweaking on... enjoying myself which is tough luck on Pete, who may have to sit yet again. Maybe not, might be able to finish without him now. Aware that I'm not letting go and fiddling for its own sake. Though hat, mouth, chin, eye need attention.

 

30 11 2023

 

Thoroughly enjoying painting Pete - another sitting should see it done but may try and extend it for the pleasure of it.

Otherwise, engaged in domestic stuff. German researchers arrive tonight to delve into my Papas stuff so have felt it necessary to clean and tidy up.

Got some drawing to do, too, though right now I should be hunting papers and  photos and the rest. 

Though after a sleep deprived night (=too much moonlight) I fancy going to sleep...

23 11 2023

 Another sitting with Pete yesterday - will be able to finish next week, I think.

I'm using the scans of his veins in the background, a far-from-faithful reproduction but does the job.

The Nature Diary drawings progress - ha. the kingfisher! - already I'm taking them far more seriously than was my intention when it began. The best outcome is that I have to walk about and look at nature, or there is nothing to do. Though ambling about is also challenging.

Last night at twilight, coming back from the river at the bottom of Rue des Jardins,  stopped in the Place de Republic to chat to Christin, a local poet. Suddenly something dropped over our heads, almost touching us, and fell to the ground by our feet. A big V shape, mottled, and something screaming. 

Shocking. In retrospect it must have been a raptor taking a bird from the plane tree and getting it wrong - not killing it outright, hence the screams - the raptor obviously couldn't let it go but also couldn't fly with it struggling. It tried, short flights across the car park without gaining any height, presumably hoping to tire the little bird which wasn't giving up without a fight We chased it and it got up the side of the footbridge to the side of the riverbank where we couldn't follow.. So no idea who won. 

Was served Quail at dinner later. 

Too many metaphors.

21 11 2023

 Collard doves on Toby and Leos house. Lot of wrongness about the third along: I overcorrected and then had the scratch off the ink which has ruined the surface. Really don't want to redo the whole thing - will think of something.

Drawing a murmuration now, that's neurotic activity if anything is but I saw a splinter group chase off a falcon and found that exciting. Just seen a kingfisher too. Got Peter sitting first thing so that one can wait. 

20 11 2023

Ink and charcoal and pencil - its big and sits well with the pretty (ish) nuthatches - enjoying myself.

Which rather shows in this little oil, featuring two birds. Almost accidental. 

 

18 11 2023

 

Yesterdays haul... today is shags. Or cormorants, lovely to see them back whatever they are. Sweet painting emerging too, somewhat fanciful and may never be finished.