Christmas cards now on sale!

I've just launched my new 2016 range of Christmas cards, based on my own watercolour bird paintings! They can be purchased at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JaneTav, and this year's wintery designs feature a Waxwing and a Siberian Jay. There's also still a few of last year's Willow Tit left over at a slightly reduced price. I will be donating 20% of the retail price of all cards sold to the BTO to help fund their vital research. Hope you like the cards!

Siberian Jay card design.

Waxwing card design.

Willow Tit card design.

A Christmas Willow Tit

I haven't posted many paintings of late, because I've been working on a 'proper' painting which I've been taking a bit more time over (more on that at a later date), and also have produced a new painting which you can now buy on a Christmas card!

I felt this was a good excuse to paint one of my favourite birds, a Willow Tit. Whilst not exactly Christmassy, they do fill me with wintery feelings, as they are hardy little birds able to survive very harsh conditions due to their awesome food-caching skills! I plan to donate 25% of the retail price of the cards to the BTO, so if you like Christmas, Willow Tits, and raising money to fund bird research, head over to my shop now :o) or if you're likely to see me any time soon and would like to buy some cards, just let me know!

145. Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti)

Spanish Imperial Eagles are very similar to Eastern Imperial Eagles, being closely related, but with larger white shoulder patches and a white leading edge to their wing - kind of looks like they've been snowed on. This photo is of the juvenile plumage, the lighter parts of which are a richer more tawny colour than on the Eastern Imperial Eagle. Their preferred habitat is variable, but can include plains with scattered trees and small patches of woodland, also marshes, and higher mountain slopes where suitable lowland habitat is not available. Their range is very restricted - they are classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN as they only occur in parts of central and southeast Spain, and also a very small part of Portugal; their population seems to be increasing though which is good news!

Spanish Imperial Eagle, ©Vlaskop, via Flickr Creative Commons.

Spanish Imperial Eagle painting.

Hmmm, not too shabby, maybe I am getting better at birds in flight (famous last words....). I was away over the weekend so didn't get any paintings done - we were at House Christmas, where our group of friends (we all used to live together in the same house, hence the name) have our own Christmas day, before actual Christmas. We don't even all live in the same city any more but it's always a highlight of our year, good times!

Yay!