Swifts feeding at Sunset by Ruth Dolan

Love those golden washes in the background..and the lovely splattering. I do have a bit of a problem with the swift shape , I think they are not sharp enough nor quite correct. have you got a good bird book to have a refer to?. I just think the idea and ambiance is so good thet the birds need to be spot on?

Thanks Sylvia, i was unhappy about the swifts...their sickle wings are so beautiful and I tried riggers, writers, all sorts, and still wasn't happy. I did refer to a number of bird books, and still felt it was not right, so glad to get a costructive comment. I think I need to look at the measurements more carefully...or work larger, that might help.

PS; Sylvia...the bodies are far too long and full, aren't they...must get my scrubber out! Posting certainly shows errors up!

I think I might (if you) spend an hour with a fine brush and quite fluid paint and just practise the shapes. Could draw them in faintly first , but I just think as few brush strokes as possible. Might have a go myself, cos i know it isnt easy.

Birds of any kind are very hard work in watercolour or any other medium - not so much paintings of individual birds as catching them in flight. Sylvia's suggestion is a very good one: keep practising on whatever piece of paper comes to hand until you can draw them in your sleep - but don't get too knotted up and tense about it! I love giving that sort of advice: never take it myself..... Your own idea, about working on a slightly bigger scale, is worth pursuing - it generally is easier to work on a generous scale, if only because you can actually see what you're doing. However, I have seen swifts in just this sort of formation in fields near the shore - it's a bit like being dive-bombed, except they always miss you: and I did know what these were as soon as I saw the thumbail of this painting, so persevere! Very attractive golden light - the painting does work, even if you, like me, are not quite ready for a career in wild-life illustration.

Thank you both for your advice. I think yes, a very few brush strokes would be best, it's too easy for ithe line to thicken, otherwise. I will persevere, and perhaps try putting the birds in with a black pen and ink, once I am more confident of the shape; it may be easier to maintain the fine sweep of the sickles that way. Will post the next attempt after I've had a practice.....Didn't realise how badly drawn they really were until I looked again at 5 am! I have a very bad habit of painting late into the night and with a 'daylight' lamp, which is not what it claimed to be. Daytime is the very best time. to paint..........and settle down with a G&T at night instead!

A lovely composition and colours even if the swifts belong to a "new" species!!! We have lots over our garden near the Seine and for me they announce spring. I've got my bird book open! and the bodies should be a third shorter and the tails more fan like - swallows have long fine tail feathers.The wings seem fine. Good luck with new efforts. PS Just ordered a "Daylight"! Have I made a mistake?!!!!

I love the colours Ruth. When you have taken some of the helpful advice from above comments, my meagre input would be to make the swifts appear in different sizes to make some look further away.

Lovely warm tones and subtle colour blend. Whether the birds are "correct" is entirely up to you as the artist. Are they birds? or an icon for movement, shape, freedom of expression. For me it doesn't matter a bit whether the shapes are "right" it is the joy of movement and freedom of expression. It made me think of swallows as calligraphy in flight. Thanks for posting it I enjoyed looking at it.

This is a little beauty. I love the colour.

This is lovely Ruth. Striking colours are catching the eyes.

This looks really lovely and works well, cant really give advice advice, but the idea is great and the colours are just excellent.

Thank you all for your comments and advice. much appreciated.

Thank you Jeannette.

Love the way you tackle so many styles and subjects - keep it up, J