Kevin McSherry hand painted and digital creative Illustration, Art and Storyboards

Well, 2016 has arrived. I hope that the rain will abate soon because if it goes on the way it has, we'll all be washed down the Swanee. We'll all end up doing a spot of trout fishing.

Continuing with the work I've been at over the last while, here's another of my favourite birds. This one is 'Halcyon III'. Gilded Acrylics on canvas. 8" x 8".

After a couple of weeks away doing other work, I've started back on this charity project. As you can see, I'm taking my sweet time. It's because I'm selfishly enjoying it so much -and nobody has given me a deadline!

But that's the joy of this. I'm almost done with the front of the guitar; I've the back still to do. Then there's all the lacquering...

Please visit the Musical Youth Foundation's web site and support them. I think it's a worthy cause because music, however badly I play it, is important in my life and I know how it gives children a sense of achievement once they own it.

When this guitar is finished, it will be sold to raise money for them. And it will be a playable instrument into the bargain!

You can see how this small painting of a Bullfinch develops from roughing out to applying the gilding. Painting is a bit like building a house; things seem to come together very quickly until the final fitting and decoration have to be done. I left out much of the finessing of the bird as it would make the video just too long.

And I forgot to film it as I became so engrossed in the project, anyway.

I also played the ukelele for this. I bought it for my youngest daughter a couple of Christmasses ago but since then, she hasn't shown the slightest interest in it.

This is one of the works that went to Greenacres for their Christmas show. I do take on commissions for these, and if you're interested, call me on 086 247 0737.

You can see more of these artworks on The Gilded Birds page. :

Kevin

The best place to start with a project like this is the café. Rathmines, inevitably; in the calming surrounds of Café Moda. Of course I forgot my sketchbook, so I had to run in to the Swan Centre to find a cheap one -and a pen.

This is more or less how I approach any applied art project. I used to just write lists of words which may or may not lead me to an idea. In recent years, I find this a better way of generating at least something. In the end, I went for a bird theme with a peacock, as you can hopefully see in the third picture. I'm in an avian groove! I should start tweeting a bit more...

I used a posca marker for that white line. I felt I needed to see how it will work at full size on the instrument itself. As you can see, it's now completely covered with a spay-coat. This will just serve as a toned ground on which to work.

Oh and by the way, I've just invested in a new airbrush! Yup. I had one many years ago when I used to paint murals on scooters. I just can'…

I only experienced the joy of seeing a Kingfisher once. We were on a family walk along a river in western France. There was a dart of electric blue over my shoulder -and it was gone. For such a fleeting moment, it has had a lasting effect on me and it has kindled a fascination with extraordinary, showy birds. Not the wee brown Richard the Thirds that we mostly see around here -but Kingfishers, hummingbirds -even cock pheasants. It's the iridescent colours that attract me.
It all puts me in mind of when I was a child, growing up in London. My oldest friend was a keen bird-watcher and would rise very early of a weekend morning to visit the local parks and pursue his hobby. Despite being invited many times, I never made it along which I regret to this day. I've said it before, I've never been an early bird -I'm very fond of my bed and always have been.
On walks, he's able to identify each variety of bird he sees, recognise their songs and describe their feeding habits…