Malachite kingfisher: bird painting

The eye-catching feathers of the brightly coloured malachite kingfisher set against a green bed of reeds.

Medium: Original oil painting on canvas board

Dimensions: 10 by 8 inches (approx.)

Completed: 2021

Artist notes: When I lived in the Eastern Cape (South Africa), I often woke up to a little kingfisher sitting on the washing line. Special birds. I’d wanted to paint some for a while and asked my aunt who lives in the Eastern Cape if she had any photographs of kingfishers I might use as painting references. She generously sent me quite a range and I “saved” these for December when I knew I’d have some “painting time” (i.e. annual leave from my University job) but fewer flowers in my garden to paint. Lucky decision since we went back into lockdown in December so it was really good to have the photo references on hand to work with. I enjoyed painting their feathers so much that, after I’d completed the trio I’d first planned, I painted two more, including this one that I did in January.