tropical birds

I am currently working on some Ecuadorian rainforest species, which is a fun project, although for some reason I am finding it a struggle to tear myself away from drawing horses! I have been watching the Cornell Bird cams from their Panama site which is giving me some insight…although I am not writing any text, I still need to understand the best way to represent the birds. Here’s a Many-banded Aracari:

I haven’t yet finalise the design for this poster, so in preparation I did a mock-up of a local poster using some British birds, and I think I like how it turned out:

I need to do something about the text as you can’t really see it; the birdwatching logbooks have a white background, and the illustrated centre-page spread with the ticklist doesn’t have the names of the birds so I will need to play around with the design a bit for that. I have started the painted background for the Yasuni poster but it needs quite a lot more detail as it will be expanded in size for the printed version.

As far as the birdwatching logbooks go, I have had some nice orders but my understanding is that the busy season for retailers has started with a bleugh rather than a bang, so I will have to see how well the logbooks perform over the Christmas period. They are fantastic stockings fillers and Secret Santas but I realise that just because I think something is a good idea, it doesn’t mean everybody else will. I was meant to be doing a Winter Fair at a local event but that didn’t materialise, which is a shame as I was hoping to shift some of my artwork and cards. I have been asked to run a workshop for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch in January at the Seven Sisters Country Park so I’m waiting for more details on that.

Oh and I mustn’t forget: I also need to buy a car. The hire car I’m grateful to have been allocated is perfectly pleasant but it’s got black fabric upholstery and I have a free-shedding yellow Labrador so I’m looking forward to having my own motor, where the generous peppering of blond hairs won’t run the risk of a valet charge!