Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Resident of Rome


Watercolour HP paper 21 x 28 cm

I thought of calling this post The Unloved, because they largely are, poor pigeons. I'm rather fond of them and have great admiration for their impeccable taste in real estate. They live at all the best addresses: Piazza S. Marco, Piazza Di Spagna and even here, in the tower at Castiglion Fiorentino.

I'm still not quick enough to get a meaningful sketch of a pigeon on the run. I photographed this little fellow in Piazza Farnese in Rome. I painted him in the sketchbook made for me by Marta.

32 comments:

Lin said...

They are r esidents throughout the world --- here too -- and yes, they do live in the best places -- you did an outstanding job on him -- made him absolutely beautiful!

Anita Davies said...

Oh Robyn this is absolutely gorgeous, such dramatic darks and in all the right places too!

Anonymous said...

this is a stunning piece of work robyn.. I absolutely love it! Like Anita says, so dramatic and the darks perfectyly done! And you're right, they have very elegant tastes! Beautiful.
ronell

juj said...

This sketch almost looks like a photo itself - it has that luminescent glow. The green on his neck is amazing, his feet are outstanding, the shadow and marks in the tile have such depth. Really Robyn - this whole thing is just GLORIOUS!!

Dave MH said...

beautiful!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Thank you all, muchly! I was pleased with this. Because it was in a sketchbook I wasn't taking it too seriously. Wonders will never cease!

Dave mh- I really enjoyed finding your blog. You are on a wonderful journey of discovery.

Anonymous said...

This is so much in the spirit of Watercolor washes. Good one!

Jennifer Rose said...

beautiful sketch!
I am always looking at pigeons, they have such unique markings (but I do tend to get almost beheaded when they fly by lol)

Jeanette Jobson said...

This is a beautiful painting Robyn. You go from strength to strength!

I have a love of pigeons, despite their reputations as pests. I love the sound they make and their beautiful markings and colours.

brian nelson said...

Love this! What an excellent painting!

mARTa said...

Did I forget to tell you that the first pigeon painting in that sketchbook is mine? Yes, take an xacto to the sheet and send it here! LOL....Robyn, it's absolutely captivating! The colors vibrate, something I wouldn't expect from mostly grays. I'm happy to hear you are getting good use of that sketchbook too!

Leslie said...

This is beautiful, Robyn! You have a gift of taking something we see every day and revealing it as a work of art.

Laurel Neustadter said...

This is just beautiful! I love the design of the pigeon against the tiled ground. It is very eye-catching.

Anonymous said...

I enjoy seeing any kind of wildlife in the urban jungle, even pigeons. This one is so brilliantly painted (in both senses of the word brilliant!). The nicest painted pigeon I've ever seen!

Felicity Grace said...

Robyn, I love this! It has a fabulous combination of sharp detail (in the wings)and looseness (in the stones), perfect!

Sydney Harper said...

That's beautiful, Robyn! Well done. You've captured that touch of iridescent color they tend to have. I have a soft spot for pigeons. We have a couple of pet doves that have become part of the family.

joe@italyville.com said...

Beautiful Robyn!

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

When I opened your blog and saw the pigeon I said aloud WHOW.! Then I read all the comments posted and agree with every one. A stunning piece of work - so fresh, the composition, colour, tone and subject. Are you getting good - but then you probably always were and didnt realise it until now. Confidence is showing. Great piece of work.

Anonymous said...

I was in town today and it was quite nice out, so there were pigeons abound and everytime I saw one I thought of your beautiful drawing!
ronell

"JeanneG" said...

Very lovely Robyn.

janie said...

Stunning absolutely stunning

Judybec said...

beautiful! and the background is wonderful too.

dinahmow said...

Yes, you've caught the brilliance of his feathers beautifully. I'm impressed that you didn't "lose" it in going over the page centre!

Joan said...

Robyn, You did a super job on this!! Great color and texture in the feathers. Before I went to Venice I practice sketching pigeons for hours,and then never put one in anything while I was there. lol

Elizabeth A Patterson said...

He looks like he's walking across your sketchbook... just as a real city pigeon might do, if you happened to leave it lying open! This is wonderful, Robyn. I love the variety you show us in your work here. Lots of surprises, all delightful!

quirkyartist said...

This is wonderful - everything about it. Certainly the drama, but the colour, everything. I did birds on the run in the Botanical Gardens last week. Not anything like as accomplished as yours. Will take birdseed next time - try to make them stay in one place for a while.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Thank you all for making this one of my most popular posts. I still haven't managed to catch up with another pigeon though. I hope by now I have managed to get around to all your blogs to visit.

I encourage everyone to put an 'email me' link on your blog, I so often want to say a personal thank you and prefer not to do it on your blogs. Because it sounds like advertising!;)

caseytoussaint said...

Amazing work, Robyn! I have a few regular pigeons hanging around in my back yard, but I had never noticed they were beautiful before. Or are Roman pigeons,like Roman women, just more elegant than the rest of us?
You have really become a master at watercolor!

pedalpower said...

Beautiful! I love the perspective you drew him from....just like I'm looking down and there he is!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Casey - Thank you! Actually you can recognise a Roman pigeon by the diamantes on her jeans!

Pedalpower - thank you. I can't take a lot of credit for the perspective because I did work from a photo I took. I'm glad you like it though :)

perugina said...

I love the perspective too Robyn,
Funny this, as i have taken so many photographs of these elegant birds (must dig one out)... I love them... and I know how thy are regarded in Italy a little higher on the rung than the 'rat'... i think you have done them a wonderful service by capturing this beautifully in aquarelli!

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

I f you were to love a pigeon this is THE one to love...beautiful bird

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