Friday 6 July 2007

My Feather Collection


I am lucky enough to live by the sea. The view from my bedroom window looks down across the sea shore. It is an estuary and has lots of wild birds and is actually a place of special scientific interest. When I go for a walk on the shore I am always finding feathers. I love the pure white swan feathers but my favourites are these brown and white striped ones. In the summer I can find so many, all diffrent sizes, tiny ones and much bigger ones. They are all different, the colours ,shapes and patterns. I like placing them in a line and then drawing them. It does take me a long time to do a drawing like this but I love the finished result.
I have so many different feathers, so many different colours and patterns and shapes. Some of them are drawn in pencil because I want to capture the lines and all the detail.I have used Derwent crayons to do this line of feathers.
Just the other day I spotted a tiny feather in the road and it had bright blue up one side. My husband said it was a Jays feather. He showed me a picture of a Jay and it has blue on its wings. What a great find , I must draw it in one of my pictures.
Hope you like my feather drawing. There is a similar drawing to this going to be in my exhibition . It starts two weeks tomorrow.I am going to put some of my feathers on display along with other natural objects which I have drawn.
I collect feathers when ever I see them. I usually wash them in soapy water and that way I know they are clean. Some people are allergic to feathers, not me, so do take care if you handle them.

13 comments:

Joan Y said...

Wow Milly, thanks for the invite. I'm glad you found me cuz I'm sure glad I found you! Your drawings are wonderful ... so beautiful and sensitively created! Look forward to seeing more drawings.

Exmoorjane said...

Dear Milly, how lovely to find you here.....I missed your blogs on CL so much but just don't go back there really anymore.... your drawings are as beautiful as ever...

Thank you for the good wishes on my move - I am SO happy in our new home.

Janexx

Un Peu Loufoque said...

Oh good lord woman you are so talented! I am off to sulk!!and a sea view to boot!C'est pas juste!

Bluestocking Mum said...

Hello Milly

It is so good to see you-just saw your comment on Irish Eyes blog and came to see you. Have so missed your lovely words and pictures....as beautiful as ever.

I do hope this means you have joined us...or will soon...

warmest wishes
xx
(CCA-Aka Chicken Licken)

Lin said...

WELCOME TO EDM!! What grandglorious paintings!!! I will eagerly await more!! WOW!

Sharon said...

These are gorgeous! What medium are you using?

MILLY said...

Sharon, Thankyou and glad you like the feathers. They are drawn with Derwent studio pencils, crayons.
Eileen

Jennings said...

Absolutely beautiful!!! I'm new to EDM, too - so glad to find your blog!

Jennings

brian nelson said...

Your art is wonderful. I just found your site and have been enjoying your work!

NIÑA AGRIDULCE said...

wow! at first site i thought it was a foto... it's incredible.
i have a collection of feathers too... never thought on posting them... but maybe i will, hope you don't mind.
like very much your blog... i will be coming back,
may i?

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

This is brilliant as is your last feather post. Are you based in the Lakes? I'm in the Peaks.

Cait O'Connor said...

Lovely to have you back Milly, you and your wonderful drawings were very much missed.
I have jays in the garden aren't they beautiful?
Caitx

Jana Bouc said...

These are exquisite. I'd be interested in knowing the media you've used for each of your pictures. I didn't see a note about that on most and couldn't tell just from seeing them online. I love reading about people's process for doing the work--it was interesting to hear about your location and that you wash the feathers first--smart idea. Whenever I've thought about picking up found feathers I've worried about them being dirty. I work near a bird sanctuary--I think I'll go collecting this week at lunch (and then take them home and wash and draw them!) Thanks for the inspiration!