circa 1962 bird illustrations

2.07.2009








aren't these great? i have been buying some old field guides and little golden nature books whenever i can find them. the illustrations are always so charming and i love the old school coloration. i have really had it with slick illustrator (vector based) art -and though i appreciate the software, and still want to learn it, there is something about brush to water to paper that will always trump sitting before a glowing monitor to create art. I think i will always be an artist that does it the old way. c'est la vie.

13 comments:

  1. I started doing the same thing a couple months ago, when I ran into an old bird field guide for sale in our local library bookstore.

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  2. I completely agree about the paint to paper aspect of painting. I tend to have a love/hate relationship with digital art. But to me, nothing is better than actual scruffy paint. Oh, and I love your stuff by the way.

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  3. they both have their places ..
    neither one should replace the other.
    but there is just something about brush to paper ..

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  4. Yes there is something very tactile about paintbrushes and paints and playing with and mixing the colours.
    I think your art is beautiful, such vibrant colours and wonderful compositions. ♥

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  5. " Circa 1962" makes me feel old.
    I think this will be a generational divide....I find a closer relationship between the artist and the work when it is hands on. Younger generations who started learning their abc's on a computer console are comfortable with all types of electronic imagery .
    Is this your new addiction?

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  6. There is nothing wrong with going Old School.

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  7. they're lovely. what would you mix to get that background green?

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  8. dani: they are just so much better. as good as the photography can be on field guides, sometimes the illustrations tell more.

    boney: oh i know youre old skool. and can i get another amen brother? amen, amen!

    hilary: welcome! and i agree it is a love hate thing with digital. i just love how it looks when paint hits the paper and i watch the color seep in. its one of the big joys in life

    foamy: agreed. which is why i still want to learn it. but mostly to make "products" noit "art" even though in my world those two meld often.

    dianne: thank you so much. i just think the act of painting feels real. like eating a real tomato instead of the hard red things called "tomato" you find at the store.

    fishy: meaning, the collection of older books with illustrations? its not new! the new kids have a sensibility that is their own. i see it a lot on Etsy -its a "look" i cant describe but "know"

    boxer: no there isnt. i might go even further to ancient skool.

    abg: i didnt paint these! they are cards i think came with a product. they were produced by mcgraw hill and were collectible cards. i bought them at the old lakewood flea. boy i miss that place.

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  9. Dang you hit one of my weaknesses. I recently bought a collection of the Wildlife Conservation Stamps. Not just birds but trees, mammals, wildflowers, fish and amphibians. Just so beautiful. Even the squirrels. Dang it.
    These that you bought are gorgeous.

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  10. chickory,

    i love these
    olde illustrations
    &
    recently purchased a circa 1960, bound, hardcover, 2-book set of north american 'wild birds' and 'song birds' by national geographic press from a thrift store -- gave one each to my girls for christmas -- i bought this set specifically for the old school 'slightly off color' photography ( you know, with too too vivid cyans and magenta and almost no yellow :)

    i love these olde things, but question the necessity for one or another to always trump

    ¤ ¤ ¤

    /t.

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  11. heh...
    I is overrun wif' old school stuff--not jes' illusration, but HISTORY--

    THese is so charmin'!

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  12. shamu: i have an entire drawer of stamps - i liked the habitat collections where the sheet of stamps mad an entire picture. i also like my set of golden nature guides which has the best illustrations ever!!!

    *even squirrels? oh dear*

    /t: me too! well youve explained why the color is what it is. old books like that are a treasure. my mom gave me north american birds there are a lot of line drawings which i find particularly useful. these ive posted - i cant figure out if it is the color faded or they were always like this.

    aunty: they are charming. and i like charming!! oh yes i know you are a book loving aunty

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