{"id":19716,"title":"The Magical Guardian of a Red Listed Bird","description":"My latest drawing and gentle reference is the Slavonian\u00a0Grebe Grebe (Podiceps auritus), this spectacular little grebe, is known as the Horned Grebe in North America. According to an article written by Stephen Moss in 2012: \u201cThe species also has several intriguing folk-names, possibly because of its bright red eyes: these include \u201cdevil-diver\u201d, \u201chell-diver\u201d and \u201cwater-witch\u201d. These brilliant folk names informed the look of the gentle reference, as I wanted to reflect some wrath, the intention is to visually suggest that I am this birds magical guardian, as the Slovenian Grebe is under threat","content":"

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My latest drawing and gentle reference is the Slavonian\u00a0Grebe (Podiceps auritus<\/em>), this spectacular little grebe, is known as the Horned Grebe in North America. According to an article<\/a> written by Stephen Moss<\/a> in 2012: \u201cThe species also has several intriguing folk-names, possibly because of its bright red eyes: these include \u201cdevil-diver\u201d, \u201chell-diver\u201d and \u201cwater-witch\u201d. These brilliant folk names informed the look of this gentle reference, as I wanted to reflect some wrath, the intention is to visually suggest that I am this birds magical guardian, as the Slovenian Grebe is under threat.<\/p>

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In the breeding season Slavonian Grebes are mainly found north and south of the Great Glen and in Strathspey and can be watched in the breeding season at the RSPB Loch Ruthven nature reserve, the bird is on the RSPB\u2019s Red List. The Slavonian\u00a0Grebe Grebe is listed as \u2018Near Threatened\u2019 in Europe and as \u2018Vulnerable\u2019 globally. In the UK there are only 30 breeding pairs left (approx). An article in the Journal of Ornithology concluded that more research was needed to discover if climate change was responsible for the decline of Slavonian\u00a0Grebe Grebe, though the researchers couldn\u2019t rule it out. You can learn more about this bird on the RSPB website<\/a> and the BTO website<\/a> which has lots of fascinating insights into the Slovenian Grebe.\"\"The bird primarily is seen on the water and most depictions of the bird reflect this, though I wanted to capture the wonder of their feet for my illustration. Once again I paid a visit to the Natural History Museum in Tring<\/a> so I could study their skins and a taxerdermied specimen. Seeing a specimen of the bird is invaluable as you get a sense of their size, these are surprisingly small and delicate. Making preparatory sketches allow me to get a sense of the bird and its proportions, I feel like this is reflected in the drawing. I combine these sketches with multiple reference photographs and videos.\"\"
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Studies from Slavonian\u00a0Grebe skins at <\/em><\/strong>The Natural History Museum Tring<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

As I studied the strange feet of this bird I had a faint bell ringing in my head, they reminded me of something. When I came to do the gentle reference I rediscovered the shoes I\u2019m wearing here, they were perfect for this gentle reference, I\u2019ve had these shoes for more than twenty years, finally they have their moment in the limelight.<\/p>

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The shoes from my own collection, that I've had for more than twenty years. Possibly bought in a Top Man sale in Manchester.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

The head piece is made from pipe cleaners attached to two fascinator bases and sewn to a head band, I purchased golden yellow pipe cleaners, they were a little too yellow, so I dyed them with tea, there\u2019s still a faint scent of tea emanating from this particular \u2018fascinator\u2019.\u00a0\"\"Pipe cleaners were encouraged through the weave of the fascinator so no sewing!<\/em><\/strong>
\"\"The finished head piece, I trimmed some of the pipe cleaners for the finished look.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

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My outfit is relatively straightforward, though as I contemplated the fat cheeks of the Slovenian Grebe I was reminded of airplane sleeping pillows. Once brought together the look was hilariously complete. In my post production and beauty editing process I made the unusual decision to make my eyes red in Photoshop which gives the final look a haunting and slightly sinister energy intended to reflect the magical folk names described above. As I was bringing the look together I had some inspirations pop into my mind. With this look it was Padm\u00e9 Amidala Naberrie played by Natalie Portman in the\u00a0Star Wars franchise, Angelina Jolie as Maleficent and the Scarlet Witch played by Elizabeth Olsen in the Marvel films, shown below.\u00a0\"\"
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As ever my research continues.\u00a0<\/p>

Discover which British birds are on the Red List and learn how you can support the quest to protect the birds that are threatened <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.
<\/strong>\"\"A design celebrating this particular drawing and gentle reference can be found below.<\/p>

Devil Diver Products <\/u><\/a>





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