Scarabeo rinoceronte (Oryctes nasicornis)

Male Oryctes nasicornis found dead behind the house by my neighbor, gouache on Fabriano sketchbook, one day I'd like to see a fight ...between males!!!

The Flight

Exciting meeting with Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) on the island of Texel in 2004, watercolor and pencil can meet.... with other "Lunatics" at the Festival of Owls 22-23 September 2012 Grazzano www.festivaldeigufi.it
Maria Elena Ferrari from Italy

Gaeta Serapo's beach

Mini Sketch done from the beach of Gaeta Sunday, February 26 while the children were playing on the beach, the sky was cloudy but the scenery beautiful and my heart was happy! 

In Gaeta you can admire the exhibition of drawings naturalistic exposed to 18 and opened at the XI Italian Conference Ringers.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Disegno-Naturalistico-a-Gaeta/291325087600463?sk=wall

Christmas's Woodcock

Little paint (unfinished) performed on commission, gouache on Fabriano paper... Christmas's Woodcock!

Sand Martin - Maria Elena ferrari

This watercolour is the sketch of a river bank where the Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) nests, this little swallow breeds colonially and dig your nests in tunnels. In spring they arrive on our rivers from Africa wintering quarter. They need to find vertical river bank to erosion and a layer of silt and sand in which their dig galleries. You could find maybe a few hundred up to 6,000 nests! Unfortunately where I live are becoming fewer because of the river systems that no longer offers available habitats, sometimes nesting in gravel pits or sand, replacing the banks river I'm love this small animal (the subject of my thesis, 15 years ago!!), but is not easy to paint, due to flights acrobatic, better when they looking out the nest!!

Greater Flamingo from zoo by Maria Elena, Italy

Another sketches from the zoo Parco NaturaViva (VR) Italy, the subject now is Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber). Watercolours and pencil Fabriano sketchbook 200 g/mq.
I hope, in the breeding season, to sketch Flamingo in nature!!
I like this strange and contortionist bird, his colours, his elegance.

Little egret, by Maria Elena Ferrari, Italy

I take this Little egret (Egretta garzetta) from a photo (my husband is the author). 19.01.2011 I have gone for a walk near Enza river (Parma, Italy) with my husband, among flights of Lapwings, Curlews and Snipes, to find the Stone-curlews (Burhinus oedicnemus) wintering, but was impossible for me to paint!! We are absorbed on the fog!! But the landscape and the atmosphere is fabulous!!

Felis silvestris in the zoo

In november 2010 I visited the zoo Parco NaturaViva near Bussolengo (VR) Italy, I don't like zoo, but they are an attractive chance to sketch and take some photos about animals very difficult to observe in nature (for me). This is Felis silvestris, wonderful animal, I hope this sketch will became soon a painting!!

Magpie on trough - by Maria Elena Ferrari

In this winter holidays, we put on trough a tipical Christmas italian dessert named "Panettone", it's very appreciate!! Magpie is too intrusive for the other smaller birds...but she's a very good model for me!!This is a watercolour from my sketchbook.

Good crossing!

Good crossing to everyone, happy new year full of emotions, inspirations, sketches and peace!

I would like to talk about me...mari

Hi everyone! I would like to talk about me..
My name is Maria ElenaFerrari (it's too long, I prefer Mari)!I was born in 1969, in Parma, Italy... world!I live in the hills near Parma, with my husband Massimo and two children (now). I'm working as a wildlife illustrator (I'm an autodidact) and as a biologist on field, since 1998. Since ten years I teach to beginners wildlife art, because I think there is an artist in everyone!As you can read... my english is terrible! Be patient please!!
I love painting especially wild animals in particulary birds, I'm a ringer too, this is for me a great opportunity to feel a "animal's spirit". I love sketching in the field because it's a time for myself, but I work a lot in my studio from photos because I love details. Where I live (the landscape is in the photo) there is Wolf, Canis lupus, but unfortunately I never see it! There is my dream (see the photo!). I like also very much Africa! I hope to retourne there.
I wish to thank Cathy Johnson because she's invited me to join this very exciting Blog! I have seen wonderful sketches! Ciao Mari