Hey everyone! As Christmas is here, I was curious to know what is your favourite present given/recieved.
This year the big surprise was the beautiful painting of a common kingfisher my sister made.
PS: How would you rate my sister’s painting? She’s really curious to know what you guys think.
I would rate it 11 out of 10. It looks EPIC!!!
I like the painting and would encourage her to continue painting!
This was a slim year on receiving gifts… however I gifted my daughter
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us (Ed Yong)
2,000,000,000 out of 10.
Books are the most common gift given in our family every year. This year brought:
Actually two copies of the Amy Tan were under the Christmas tree - I gave one and received one.
My grandmother got me a plastic specimen container for Christmas. When I go to the beach I can use it to hold tidepool creatures for much better photos. I’m really excited to try it out!
PS. The kingfisher picture is great. I’d definitely give it a 9 out of 10. Or probably closer to a 9 and 1/2 out of 10.
I have a story about a very special nature related gift - but it has nothing to do with Christmas.
A few years ago I met a biologist from the biological Station Doñana in Sevilla (EBD) and told him I collected feathers and whether that was allowed. He grinned and said “If you find something rare, contact me”. That weekend he took me on a bat research trip. On the next day, coming home at 4 in the morning and driving on some little dirt road, he suddenly stopped, reversed, opened the door on his side, reached out and presented me with a dead woodchat shrike (Lanius senator). That was one of the best presents I ever got! :-)
Excellent overall.
i find the crispness of each line and element pleasing. the composition is top rate too.
I do think the feet could use some touching up - It lacks some of the detail found in the rest of the painting.
I would be delighted to have a work like this in someplace with natural sunlight to really bring out the color.
I think your sister should continue making art. and that she should be eager to make mistakes, experiments, and small studies; that is how we artists learn!
It’s the “sparkly” background (bokeh?) that I like, and the wet shine to the birds fearhers. Adds an element of whimsy that I appreciate in art.
I got a new light sheet/stand for moth-ing in exchange for buying my sister a gift she requested of similar value: https://entoquip.com/entoceptor/
I also got cactus seeds from a couple friends.
On a side note, I did get to try it out earlier today.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?lat=59.778113374137064&lng=-151.8655170081773&on=2024-12-26&radius=0.9849941405298098&user_id=isopodguy&verifiable=any
My old TA recommended that book to me! I have yet to check it out, but the recommendation was glowing. I hope your daughter enjoys it!
This painting is BEAUTIFUL! I absolutely love it!
I’m not sure if it counts, but my friend bought me a Sawyer squeeze filter because I’m about to set out on my first proper backpacking trip. I’m really excited!
Ooh, that sounds fun! I hope to do that someday.
I got a new camera for Xmas!! A canon R50 alongside a macro lens. While going across a very overgrown an unkempt part of the backyard to look for the countless spiders, I found something even better! Ecstatic that my first photo of an insect with this camera is of one of my favourite bees!!
So i am very happy!
I really like that picture of your sister. She could make great calenders for the wall.
I got a book about sparrows, which I had said I like to get.
As my little sister frees every insect in the house, even if she is no observer and my dad likes to take pictures of creepy crawlies and asks me what he found in the house, I got them both some cheap collecting things,where air can get in, so they don’t have to use glasses all the time…
And I got a magpie plushy. 
Happy New Year All, Your Sister’s painting is wonderful!
Taming Fruit looks really nice. I googled it and saw some of the interior artwork as well and those look great as well!
