When I was much younger I always drew horses, mainly racehorses, so perhaps it makes sense that I occasionally paint other animals. One of my favourite paintings of animals is Carel Fabrituis' The Goldfinch (below) which inspired my canary images. As the paintings show, I felt inclined at the time to do a variation on the same animal. Sometimes, one just isn't enough.
One of the challenges in painting animals is to give them a personality since all animals have their own individuality, which is especially obvious if you have a pet or spend some time around an animal.
All the paintings were done from actual specimens except the horse, which is based on a photograph. The drypoint was done from the top painting 6 years later.
The Goldfinch, 1654, oil on panel, 33.5 x 22.8 cm
Yellow Canary, 2012, oil on linen, 36 x 36 cm
The Canary, 2012, oil on panel, 17 x 18 cm
Canary 2012, oil on panel, 25 x 30 cm
Canary, 2018, drypoint, 19.5 x 13.25 cm
The Still of the Night, 2016, oil on linen, 35.5 x 41 cm
Night Glow, 2017, oil on panel, 50 x 50 cm
Alice, 2018, drypoint, 19.5 x 11.25 cm
Bird Skull, 2012, oil on panel, 21.75 x 41 cm
