Sunday, December 4, 2011

Avian Faces - Bush-stone Curlews


With this painting I wanted to focus on the variety of different expressions that I could notice in the Bush-stone Curlew, Burhinus grallarius. The bottom right bird looks 'sad' but I wouldn't say the bird was actually sad, the way they are able to move their feathers, especially around their eyes and beak, allows them to appear different according to their mood or need to communicate with other birds. I noticed this is even truer for nocturnal birds, probably due to the bigger size of their eyes. It is amazing and surprising how quickly and suddenly birds can change their appearance.

10 comments:

  1. This is amazing, Matteo...I had no idea they could change that much!

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  2. What a fascinating study--so much beautiful and soft detail. The sparkle in the upper right eye is lovely!

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  3. These are incredible Matteo. Who knew?

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  4. thank you for making me realize that birds have facial expression, and I like this composition, it's like a conversation between them. The drawings are splendid. You must have spent lots of time observing them.

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  5. I agree; I really appreciate this unique perspective! I have always learned that feathers are attached to muscles, but it becomes so apparent when looking at a face. Now I will wonder what the birds are thinking.

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  6. I agree, with you all... "amazing and surprising" as you wrote...

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  7. Thanks everybody, to Concetta, yes, I spent a long time with them..

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