Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Snowflake Dove

Snowflake Dove
6"x8" oil on canvas panel  $150. SOLD. 


Artist Note. 
I have been wanting to paint 
this beautiful dove ever
since I since I first saw it. 
I have painted it seven times 
learning all about 
its shape, feathers, beak and that 
amazing eye...and this finally
is the closest to what it is like
and importantly...the one I like best.

An interesting fact.
I cannot find a thing 
about Snowflake Doves.
I have tried Google and books.
Zip - nothing.
Here is a pic.

Any of you know anything about them?
(David Gascoigne - an expert on the avian world)
They are so truly beautiful 
with the snowflake markings on their wings.

24 comments:

  1. Hi Julie:
    I am away in Australia right now, but nothing leaps out at me, and I do not have my reference materials. I will check when I get back home and let you know what I find out. David

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    1. Wow...some fascinating photos will be appearing on your blog. Thanks for taking the time to let me know. Keep having a great time.

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    2. Just found out- they are an Australian Dove! Diamond Dove. fancy you being right there!

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  2. I searched 'dove with orange eye ring' and up popped Diamond Dove. It's an Australian native, so David might see one! Genus: Geopelia cuneata

    Your painting is captivating, so I had to go in search...

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    1. Clever YOU! Creative search info!
      These have to be it - the Diamond Dove. Google let me down with a name search! Anyway, my friend, I have enjoyed reading about them very much so, thank you.
      Yes, David is in the right place but, alas, I gave him the PetSmart name.

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  3. What a lovely painting of an unusual bird! Intrigued by your mystery, I "googled" around as you did, but the nearest I found was called a Diamond Dove which originates in Australia. It has the same distinctive orange feathers surrounding the eye, and a "snowflake-like" pattern as well. It appeared, however to be slightly more elongated than those in your reference photo, and the tail feathers differ. You can check it out on Wikipedia. (Like you, I find birds fascinating, but you paint them more often than I do!)

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    1. Hi Helene - another clever blogging pal! You must have more patience than me. I have enjoyed reading about them and seeing many different bodies on them and the feathers differ too.Some of the eye rings are dramatic. What a find!
      Thanks so much, Helene. Hope you are painting!

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  4. What a beautiful painting, and bird. Had not known it existed.

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    1. Thanks so much, Lavina. Are you the same Lavina from Daily Paintworks? Such a good artist!
      The link here only takes me to your name. I had to track you down!

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  5. It's beautiful, and so is your painting.

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    1. Thanks so much Debra. I really adore your painting of Napoleon. What a great expression!

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  6. yep its a Diamond Dove :) pretty bids

    nice painting of one :) very cute and pudgy :)

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  7. Beautiful!! You captured the pose, shading and color so well! I'm definitely not a bird expert...lucky if I can identify the obvious ones. lol

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    1. Ha! but you can do what most of us cannot....sketch out something great right on the spot!

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  8. I had never seen nor heard of it either, but whatever it's name, it's a beautiful bird and luscious painting!

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    1. Thank YOU, Jan. Your new carving is so beautiful. I love simplified shapes like that. I also like the way you pass on clear information - like you did with using the Aluminum panels.

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  9. Julie he is gorgeous. I know nothing about these doves...we have mourning doves here but nothing that resembles the snowflake. You have captured his heart in that eye...very much a sweet painting friend. Hope you have a beautiful week. Hugs!

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    1. It is an Australian Dove. I have clever followers who did much better than I did!
      Yes, that eye is amazing.
      Love your painting of the apple and for pointing out Adam and Eve ate FRUIT - it didn't say apple!

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  10. I never heard about that species of doves before, but such a beautiful bird and a gorgeous painting !

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    1. Hi Jane - hope you enjoyed your summer. Thanks for the kind words. In turn let me say I love the abstract you did - no wonder it sold!

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  11. Your painting is so stunning. I have never heard of this kind of dove, but I'm so happy you found one and painted it so beautifully.

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    1. Hello, Carol, I was thinking of your Abert Squirrel the other day when I saw one just like your painting.
      Thanks for the nice comment.
      Did you get that heavy rain? we missed it just a steady drizzle of half an inch.

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  12. My new favorite, Julie!
    Of course, I say that a lot here on your beautiful blog.

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie