On this page you can see how I develop the composition for a painting depicting a flock of landing barnacle geese.
CAERLAVEROCK
To study the barnacle geese I went to Caerlaverock one of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust visitor centres. There are several distinct populations of barnacle geese. All barnacle 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.
WORKING ON THE LAYOUT
These are just some of the compositional drawings that I produced back in the studio. I find this phase of a painting's development very exciting as I imagine the potential of the finished painting. Throughout this period my mind re-experiences the times that I had with the geese out in the field. All this feeds into the end result and shows how important it is to paint what you know and love.
COMPOSITIONAL DRAWINGS
A landing flock of geese is always going to be a complicated composition. I find that the best way of developing the layout is to keep things fluid. I shift lots of drawings on sepatate pieces of paper. I can thus experiment with a myriad of options.
A drawing can be swapped for one of a different scale or with different wing positions. Different overlaps between birds may be tried and rejected until the whole flow of the flock pulls together. I'm looking for a natural and yet attractive grouping.
The prints below depict pink-footed geese another species of goose that also winters in the United Kingdom.
Limited edition giclee print reproduced from an original oil painting
Prints are signed by the artist
The prints are on Somerset Velvet watercolour paper (100% cotton, acid free)
Canvas prints reproduced from an original oil painting
The prints are on heavy weight canvas with a matt laminate surface
Please note: These pink-footed goose prints are produced following
your
order and are posted to you direct from the printers.
NUMBER IN BRITAIN
67,000 Barnacle Geese spend their winter in the British Isles
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.
WHERE TO SEE THEM IN THE UK
I watch Svalbard Barnacle geese at The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Caerlaverock Centre and the nearby RSPB, Mersehead Reserve both of which are along the shores of the Solway Estuary. Another must for anyone keen on watching geese is the Loch Gruinart RSPB reserve on the Island of Islay of the west coast of Scotland where the birds originate from eastern Greenland.. These two locations have the largest populations.
WHEN TO SEE THEM
Barnacle geese arrive in huge flocks in late September and early October and spend the winter. They migrate north again in the spring to return to their breeding grounds far to the north in the Arctic.
View more of my projects Fieldwork Projects Menu
Barnacle Geese (Fact Sheet from the RSPB)
Barnacle Goose (BTOweb BirdFacts)