STRESEMANN'S BUSH CROW, Zavattariornis stresemanni.
front cover for forthcoming
'Field Guide to the Birds of North East Africa'.
9.00am After 2 days design, time to get on with it. Stencil the image onto the paper and then just paint in the main patterns of the birds. Then mask out the birds and branches they are perched on with masking fluid.
12.00 noon. Start to paint the background and finish of the design of the branches the birds are perched on. Then mask the branches of with masking fluid.
6.00pm. Remove the masking fluid and start to paint the birds.
Next day, 9.00am. Spend 4 hours painting the birds, whilst looking for Bramblings in the garden. I'll now leave the painting for a couple of days so I can finish it with a fresh eye. No Bramblings, but a stunning Redpoll.