Juvenile Magpie

Great detailed drawing, John.

I agree with Cesare: this is beautiful, John.

Oh yes John...how did you acquire that wonderful iridescence ? ... .I know they have a bad press but I really like Magpies , and this guy is a gem.

Thanks for your feedback Cesare, Mia, and Sylvia. Sylvia, I over lay the colours starting with the lightest tint up to the darkest, being careful not to smother the lower layers out.

Really good

Very nice John great drawing , I too love Magpies I was out yesterday in Sandwell walking and i feed the crows and magpies dried dog food they follow me for miles.

Brilliant, lovely colours just right.

Beautiful drawing, love the way you have captured the iridescence.

This is fabulous John, so many beautiful colours coming through. I'm learning more about coloured pencils every day and I'm enjoying working with them.

Hi, Just out of curiosity how do you know its a young one John.....

Thank you for your feedback Richard, Dennis, Linda, Emma, Margaret, and Peter. Peter juveniles are thiner, and not quite so big as adults, the beak is not fully developed and often look rather unkept. Oh and they behave like teenagers, lol.

The give away is the beak in the one I have pictured here. Bit short longer in the adult birds.

Beautifully drawn John, love the iridescence in the feathers. I've got a set of coloured pencils but have never been able to get on with them - what make are you using?

Hi Jenny, thanks. The coloured pencils used are Caran d`Ache.

He's a real beauty, John!! The colours are marvellous! It is obvious from this that you love Magpies, because you have made him so beautiful, rather than just black and white.

I think coloured pencil work is under rated compared to other mediums as it can take quite a while to build up all the layers of colour but can produce such beautiful results as this.