On The Easel

wilfowl art

 
Barnacle Geese: New Wildlife Paintings
by Martin Ridley

Works in progress - a chance to preview my very latest wildlife paintings. Observe how a painting of a flight of barnacle geese coming in to land evolves from the initial compositional drawings through to completion.

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Svalbard barnacle geese at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Caerlaverock
 
 
  BARNACLE GEESE
on the Solway Firth
   
       
   
Put very simply the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a small goose with a distinctive conspicuous cream-coloured cheek patch.
   
   

There are two other species of black geese native to Europe: the brent goose (Branta bernicla) and the red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis). Here in the U.K. the canada goose (Branta canadensis) is an introduced species.

Barnacle geese are very vocal, their call can be likened to the yap of a small dog. The noise of a big barnacle geese flock just feeding is impressive, but the spectacle of a few thousand geese taking wing combined with the crescendo of sound is quite stunning.

 
           
  Svalbard barnacle geese at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Caerlaverock
Barnacle Geese, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Caerlaverock
  To study the barnacle geese I went to Caerlaverock one of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust visitor centres. There are three discrete populations of barnacle geese. All barnacle geese populations are migratory breeding in the far north and wintering on the coasts of northern Europe. On the Solway Firth I was observing the population of geese that come from Svalbard, a migration of some 3,200km.

  Svalbard barnacle geese at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Caerlaverock, Dumfries
Flock of Barnacle Geese - heading for the mud flats
 
Sketches
  Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis
Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock, Pencil Sketches
  Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis
Barnacle Geese, Pencil Drawings
   Branta leucopsis: See how initial sketches are developed into a composition
Barnacle Geese, Pencil Sketches
   Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis
Barnacle Geese (Branta leucopsis) Pencil Sketches
  Barnacle Goose,  Branta leucopsis: reference drawings
Barnacle Geese
(Branta leucopsis)
  Picture Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis: See how initial sketches are developed into a composition
Barnacle Geese
(Branta leucopsis)
  Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis: see how initial sketches are developed into a composition
Barnacle Geese
(Branta leucopsis)
 
Compositional Drawings
  Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis: reference drawings
Barnacle Geese
(Branta leucopsis)
  Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis: Solway Firth: See how initial sketches are developed into a painting composition
Barnacle Geese
  Here you can see how I develop the composition by keeping it as fluid as possible. Individual quick bird pose drawings can be moved around or overlaid with improved sketches until I reach a grouping of geese that I'm satisfied with.
  Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis: Solway Firth: See how initial sketches are developed into a painting composition
Barnacle Geese
Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis: Solway Firth: See how initial sketches are developed into a painting composition
Barnacle Geese (Branta leucopsis) Pencil and Cut Paper Layout

 

Click to view wildlife prints for sale

  Wildlife art by wildlife artist Martin Ridley Wildlife art: Paintings and drawings by wildlife artist Martin Ridley
  Wildlife art by British wildlife artist Martin Ridley Wildlife Art: A Creative Process Revealed
 
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Previously featured in "ON THE EASEL"
Pink-footed Geese

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Contact
Martin Ridley, Rossal, The Ross, Comrie, Crieff
Perthshire, Scotland PH6 2JU

Telephone: International +44 1764 670 695
UK  01764 670 695


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