Double-barred Finches - Indian Yellow - The Holmes Art Prize for Realistic Australian Bird Art

August Dry (Double-barred Finches) Handmade watercolour on Khadi handmade watercolour paper, 30 x 42cm, © Matteo Grilli

I was visiting a popular birding spot in Brisbane, Oxley Creek Common, on a very dry August day, a small flock of Double-barred Finches was busy finding food on the path and on the dry grasses nearby.

Indian Yellow makes a wonderful primary yellow, it leans towards orange in thick applications while it becomes a lemony yellow in light tints and washes. The Indian Yellow I make mixes beautifully with Prussian Blue for very natural greens or with Madder Red Deep for muted oranges, and Carmine for bright oranges and reds. It is staining and only lifts to a degree. Find it on Etsy.

One of my watercolours (Summer's End - Chestnut-breasted Mannikins) was selected as a finalist together with 34 more artists for the Holmes Art Prize for Realistic Australian Bird Art 2019, all the amazing artworks will be exposed at Mary Cairncross Reserve, Maleny until October 13.

Summer's End - Chestnut-breasted Mannikins and Handmade Watercolours Video

Summer's End, handmade watercolours on Fabriano watercolour paper, 45 x 38 cm, 

© Matteo Grilli.

I painted most of this watercolour while demonstrating at the Logan Art Gallery during my last exhibition. A the end of summer, Chestnut-breasted Mannikins gather in large groups including all the young birds. I saw this family of five at Sandy Camp Road park on the eastern Brisbane suburb of Wynnum North.

This video shows how I make my handmade watercolour paints, I hope you enjoy:

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Shorebirds Banding

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (Calidris acuminata, Piovanello siberiano) are only about 22 cm yet they accomplish a very long migration twice a year, every year. They spend the southern summer on Australia's mudflats and return to Siberia - northern Russia for the brief northern summer breeding season. They endure many threats during their long journey.

A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper's palette.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, handmade watercolours on Khadi handmade watercolour paper, 30 x 42 cm, © Matteo Grilli

In October last year I went volunteering during a bird-banding session in Manly, Brisbane organised by Birds Queensland and the Queensland Wader Study Group. The birds were caught with cannon-netting, measured, aged, ringed and banded and then released. Taking part in the process of banding migratory shorebirds has been a fantastic experience.

Lesser Sand Plover

Pacific Golden Plover

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Red-necked Stint

For all the artists and art lovers out there, I am running a promotion on my Etsy store at the moment, I am offering free postage for all orders above $30 until the end of June. This promotion includes my Artist's quality handmade watercolour paints.

All the best,

Matteo

Grey Fantail

Grey Fantail, watercolour on Khadi paper, 17 x 30 cm, © Matteo Grilli

Australian Painted Lady - a miniature life-size watercolour of a butterfly

Australian Painted Lady, handmade watercolours on Fabriano paper, 13 x 13 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.

Brown Honeyeater

Brown Honeyeater, handmade watercolour on Fabriano paper, 24 x 26 cm, © Matteo Grilli