Finishing 'Crested Pigeons'

I love early morning watercolour painting. And this particular painting now, whatever will happen with it, will remind me of a wonderful weekend spent sharing skills and experiences with other artists. I am using a new ceramic palette given to me by one student, it is working wonderfully.

Australian Reed-warbler Sketch

Australian Reed-warbler, handmade watercolour on Khadi paper, 32 x 19 cm, © Matteo Grilli

Pale-yellow Robin

Pale-yellow Robin, hand-made watercolour on hand-made watercolour paper, 25,5 x 25,5 cm, 

©  Matteo Grilli

Welcome Swallow

Welcome Swallow, handmade watercolour, white gouache on Khadi handmade watercolour paper, 

25 x 24 cm, © Matteo Grilli.

This watercolour only required three colours, Prussian Blue, Madder Red Deep and Burnt Sienna and white gouache for some highlights.

Orange Bushbrown Butterfly

Orange Bushbrown, Mycalesis terminus, handmade watercolours on Fabriano paper, 15 x 18 cm, © Matteo Grilli

This small painting came after my visit to tropical north Queensland, a birding trip, although all other wildlife was just as interesting.

Double-eyed Fig-parrots on the Daintree River

Double-eyed Fig-parrots, handmade watercolour on Fabriano paper, 24 x 24 cm, © Matteo Grilli

This painting resulted after my trip to tropical north Queensland, the parrots are Double-eyed Fig-parrots, race macleayana and the river is the Daintree. I have composed this artwork putting together a number of photos. The bird on the left is the male, the female is on the right.

This image is available as a greeting card.

Red-necked Wallabies Watercolour

Red-necked Wallabies Macropus rufogriseus, handmade watercolours on Fabriano coloured paper, 22 x 24 cm, © Matteo Grilli

This watercolour painting is also available as a greeting card.

Detail

Work in progress

Saltwater Crocodile

Saltwater Crocodile - Crocodylus porosus, handmade ink, handmade watercolour, white gouache on toned paper, 23 x 37 cm, © Matteo Grilli 2015

For this watercolour of a Saltwater Crocodile I used a different technique which was great fun. I laid a light wash of Burnt Umber to give an off-white tone to the paper, then I sketched a light pencil drawing of the Crocodile. Then, I decided to draw a more detailed sketch using Chinese black ink obtained from a traditional ink stick ground with some water on an ink stone (see materials on the top right hand corner of the image), the ink was then loaded on to the dipping pen's nib with a brush.

After I finished with the ink drawing, I started applying washes and glazes of watercolour.

At last I used some white gouache to highlight the colour of the teeth.

Australian Wood Duck

Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata, watercolour on paper, 28 x 30.5 cm,  © Matteo Grilli 2015

This Australian Wood Duck was painted using only three paints and all of them are 100% handmade by myself. A selection of my favourite handmade watercolour paints are now for sale on my online shop, in case you feel you want to give watercolours a go, they are made only with 100% Artists' quality materials. Following this link you can read how I made my own watercolours.

Purple Swamphen

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio, watercolour and gouache on toned board, 29 x 25 cm,  © Matteo Grilli 2015

The following original watercolours have been recently added to my online gallery:

Study of an Eastern Sedgefrog

Eastern Sedgefrog Litoria fallax, watercolour and gouache on toned board, 18 x 26 cm,  © Matteo Grilli 2015

I was visiting the Rainforest Botanic Gardens in Lismore and came across lots of these beautiful little creatures hiding among the water vegetation. Apparently Eastern Sedgefrogs hide in banana trees and become lost in fruit shops and supermarkets once the bananas are shipped across Australia.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos at Grampians National Park

Eastern Grey Kangaroos at Grampians National Park.
Watercolour pencils on paper, 40 x 30 cm,  © Matteo Grilli 2015 

 For this artwork I made the exception of using watercolour pencils, a medium I haven't been using often recently. I enjoyed very much to see how the colours change with the lightest touch of a moist brush, it almost felt like a new work was magically developing quickly right under my hands.

I saw a large mob of Eastern grey Kangaroos while visiting the Grampians National Park in western Victoria, here they are represented in the beautiful valley around Hall's Gap which is surrounded by very wild, rugged and beautiful mountains as well as heaps of wildlife including Kangaroos, Emus, Ekidnas and many species of birds including the Powerful Owl.

This original artwork is now for sale on my online shop which will be having a break from October 4th until November 1st, I will be enjoying new adventures with a long-awaited visitor from overseas... so, in case someone wants to avoid the November Christmas rush for art presents, I would suggest to order your gifts in September.

 Bush Heritage Australia is launching a campaign to raise funds to purchase and protect land to studying and conserving the endangered and recently re-discovered Night Parrot, thought to be extinct until two years ago. To find out more, please follow this link and if you wish, make a donation to support the project.

All the best,

Matteo