'The Company of Cranes' Part One

Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve Zoetrope' - depicting the forest, nesting Cranes, the mill and various animals sharing the habitat.

'The Company of Cranes - Part One' is the first of two exhibitions showcasing my artwork commissioned by Somerset Art Works and The Great Crane Project.

The exhibition currently running at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust until 5th August, presents my hand-printed, narrative, steel zoetropes depicting the 'Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere' in Brandenburg and the 'Somerset levels'.  I am also delighted to be showcasing the work of pupils from Ash School in Somerset, who created their own fantastic zoetropes!

A screen shows images and short films of wildlife from the environments of both Somerset and Brandenburg and the creation of the artworks themselves. In addition I present a series of dioramas inspired by bird species from around the world.

Above and below are my finely detailed and colourful gouache illustrations, created for the zoetropes.  Also see below a short video where I make a zoetrope in my Birmingham studio in 80 seconds!

'Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve Zoetrope' - depicting Cranes in meadows, blossom trees, marsh frogs and may bugs - all of which I was lucky enough to observe whilst in the reserve.

Somerset Levels Zoetrope' - I wanted to paint the Cranes against a backdrop of vivid red accompanied by local flora including water parsnip, dandelions and bulrushes.

Making a Zoetrope in 80 seconds!

'The Company of Cranes - Part Two' will be presented during the Somerset Art Weeks festival, 21 Sept - 6 October 2013.

The Luminous Forest

The beautiful Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve, Brandenburg

The experience of being in Germany was so emotional and moving, that I have found it hard to put into words.  Walking through the forest and hearing Cranes calling in the distance moved me deeply.  The vibrant biosphere was full of life from irridescent blue beetles carpeting the floor of the forest to the amazing variety of birds darting in and out of the tree tops.  I imagine it is like being in a fairy tale – only it was not a fairytale as everything was very real and alive and calling it a fairytale takes away from the very normality of how things can be if protected and cherished.  My life in inner city Birmingham is a world away from such epic beauty.  I value nature be it buttercups trying to grow along the dusty industrial streets of the Midlands or bees trying to make their home in the side of a terraced house.  I look for signs of flora and fauna everywhere and value it even though it might be a small patch striving to survive.

The Cranes and the forest were very special and I know I am very privileged to have had the opportunity to have been part of this year’s Great Crane Project trip to Brandenburg. It was also wonderful to have met Beate and Eberhard, the conservationists from the biosphere reserve whose passion and knowledge of every inch of the area was infectious.(More on Beate and Eberhard in another post).

Cranes and a Thunderstorm 

About 10 minutes after I took this quick video the sky opened into a heavy rain storm. It was one of the most vivid and intense nature experiences of my life and one to remember forever. Eberhard had taken filmmaker Sasha and myself to a tall hide in the forest where Cranes roost at night. We sat high up watching the Cranes walking amongst the trees and calling to one another (play with sound on to hear the Cranes). The landscape was still and quiet apart from the birds themselves and for one moment I felt like I could disappear into the landscape and leave the modern world behind. Nothing seemed as real and vital than that moment in time – the feeling was so intense you could almost reach out and touch it. 

A Rich Colour Palette

Me about to enter a swamp! My desk back at 'The Mill' where the team stayed for the duration of the trip.

During breaks from wading through swamps, tracking Cranes and collecting eggs, I managed to do some painting in gouache of small miniature scenes from the forest.  These paintings will form part of my work for the Company of Cranes exhibitions -  part 1 at Slimbridge in the summer and part 2 in Langport as part of Somerset Art Weeks, in September.

Forest Jewels

 

A short film I took of this beautiful beetle crossing the forest path.  The irridescent blue colouring was so vivid - like jewels scattered across the floor. 

More forest jewels and a tree covered with fungi that looks as if it is straight from the pages of an Eastern European folktale!

Off to Germany. Leaving you with flying Cranes and Barn Owls.

Off to Brandenburg tomorrow!

My new gouaches, Damon Bridge checking eggs in Brandenburg and the first chick hatched at Slimbridge on 4th May.
Photos courtesy of Damon Bridge.

On the eve of my trip to Germany with The Great Crane Project to collect Cranes eggs for rearing and release in England, I am busily packing my art equipment and my brand new, fresh gouaches (purchased specially for the trip)!  Gouache is my preferred medium and one that I've used for 23 years. I love it's smoothness and vibrancy and when painting minute and intricate details - there is no rival in my opinion.  I travel to Brandenburg with the Crane team, stopping one night on route and arrive at the 'Mill' on Tuesday evening, where we will stay and work for a week.  I'm hoping to set up a mini art studio in a corner if I can, as I am so excited and eager to get started on illustrations for the zoetropes.  As of yesterday the first chick from this years egg collection has hatched at Slimbridge (there are two trips to Germany and I am on the second leg).  So a good start for this years new flock of Cranes.

 

Flying Cranes Zoetrope - work in progress

 

A short experimental video of my zoetrope, depicting cranes in flight - illustrated in gouache and fine pens. I am making a series of zoetropes for my forthcoming exhibition at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, illustrating my time with the Cranes.

Barn Owl at Stathe Bridge, Somerset

A spontaneous video of a Barn Owl that surprised me whilst looking for Cranes at Stathe in Somerset.  I managed to capture a short flight on my camcorder as it flew very close to me.  Such a beautiful and bright bird and a wonderful surprise.

The Beauty and Fragility of Somerset Hedgerows

During the recent bad weather a couple of weeks ago, I managed to capture some of this icy beauty on camera.  A morning walk down foggy lanes revealed withered and delicate plants whose beauty was only highlighted by a covering of frost.

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Illuminated Cranes

Cranes from left to right with: bulrushes and celandine, common dog violets and water parsnip.

Here are three illuminated Cranes I have created for my blog banner.  They depict the Eurasian Crane, and are adult birds as can be seen by the red plumage on their heads.  Such beautiful birds lend themselves well to art.  Having a background in illustration, I was keen to get drawing straight away and the actual pieces are painted in gouache, my favourite medium using fine brushes. 
Each Crane is depicted with flora from the Somerset levels which can be seen in full bloom during the summer months.  I’m looking forward to seeing the wild flowers as I’m keen to observe the other creatures that are drawn to them, such as dragonflies, bees and butterflies.

 I found some examples of early illuminated manuscripts depicting Cranes, courtesy of the British Library.  The designs are quite stylized however I think very beautiful!


Miniatures of Cranes from left to right: England;  England, N. or Central; England, S. (Salisbury?)

 

Bathed in Golden Sunlight

Left: Cranes in field courtesy of David Kjaer   Right: Damon Bridge, Great Crane Project Manager with tracking gear.

The first time I saw the Cranes they were bathed in golden sunlight.  I have only ever seen Cranes in fairy tales (they became extinct in the UK nearly 400 years ago), so it was a beautiful sight.  They are very elusive, but thanks to the Crane team and their amazing tracking kit we found them hidden away on the Somerset levels.  At first I couldn’t see them with my untrained eye – but gradually I managed to distinguish their slender necks and heads from the surrounding bulrushes.  It was a very moving experience and even more so due to the afternoon light and peace and quiet of the countryside.  A real change from inner city Birmingham and the noisy sparrows that dive bomb my bird feeders all day everyday!  I hope to see the Cranes a lot more over the coming months and look forward to going to Germany with the RSPB to collect eggs to bring back for rearing in Somerset.  I learned that it doesn’t harm the German Cranes to do this as they usually lay two eggs and re lay a second time, so they are fine and monitored well by aviculturists in Germany.