Welcome to July: Birds

Audio message for July and details of a very special live drawing session - not to be missed! 🦅

Hello! And if this is the first post you’re reading, welcome! You may like to read this welcome post which tells you more about the membership and what to expect from being part of The Creative Flock.

Below is my regular monthly audio message plus links to things I mention.

Further down the post is more info on what’s coming up this month including the details for our drawing session on Thursday 18th July at 5.30pm BST which is an extra special one as we’ll be drawing live birds of prey whilst hearing fascinating facts about the birds from Emily at Icarus Falconry. I’m so excited for this session! More details and sign up below.

Mentioned in my message:

Icarus Falconry and it’s new addition of a Perigrine Falcon chick (although it’s growing fast!) https://www.instagram.com/icarusfalconryholdenby/

icarusfalconryholdenby

A post shared by @icarusfalconryholdenby

Project Lugger - A charity dedicated to the conservation of Lugger Falcons

Horstmann Trust - UK vulture conservation charity

Wildlife trust webcams - https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/webcams

Hawk and Owl Trust - UK bird conservation charity https://hawkandowltrust.org

Springwatch at Corfe Castle, Dorset, UK https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle/springwatch-at-corfe-castle

Birds: Brilliant & Bizarre exhibition at The Natural History Museum

Deep Deep Light Watercolours

Birdtober - Instagram art challenge hosted by Andrea Holmes

Emma Carlisle’s Patreon

Holly Surplice’s Wildlife Drawing Sessions

Birds Art Life by Kyo Maclear

Why Birds this month?

I’ve always loved nature and the outdoors but during the past four years, my interest has grown. Birds in particular have become my favourite creatures to draw and paint; I’m fascinated by their variety, beauty and intelligence and I love how there’s always something new to learn about them. They help fuel my curiosity for the natural world and I never tire of observing them in the wild or my back garden.

This month I wanted to share my passion for birds, both in drawing them and in understanding these fascinating animals.

Crow on Owler Tor - Peak District. Drawn from a photo taken by my friend and photographer, Caroline Bates whilst we we visiting the Peaks.

This month’s live drawing session (Pay what you can):

Thursday 18th July, 5.30-7pm (BST) - Birds of Prey (live stream) from Icarus Falconry.

This will be a very special session, streamed live from Icarus Falconry, with handler Emily providing information about the birds as we draw them.

Two of the birds which will feature during this session will be a young peregrine falcon and a vulture chick, both new additions to Icarus. Emily will also introduce other birds during the session, they are fortunate to care for many different owls, hawks and falcons, all with very distinct personalities, so we’re in for a treat!

Images from Icarus Falconry Instagram

This session will be different to usual as it’s open to all Creative Flock subscribers on a pay-what-you-can basis, with 50% of the proceeds split between Project Lugger, a conservation charity which Icarus fundraise for and Horstmann Trust - a UK vulture conservation charity. The remaining proceeds will go to Icarus and Emily for providing their time and expertise for this session.

Paid members of The Creative Flock will get access to this session for free, although you are welcome to contribute if you would like to.

Icarus Falconry is based at Holdenby House Gardens and a stone's throw from me, I’ve visited many times over the years, most memorably when I had a falconry experience for my 40th birthday.

Me and Pedro the Owl, celebrating middle age.

It was an incredible experience and Emily’s knowledge and passion for the birds in her care shone through during my time there. Emily is also a very talented artist, do go and check out her work on Instagram

Co-sketching sessions this month.

A collection of some garden bird sketches

Following on from the well-received trial co-sketch session last month, I’m running two for July. One of these will be available to join for free subscribers, both are available to paid members.

Details are below, sign up via luma.com to get these sessions in your time zone and receive handy email reminders.

Paid members co-sketching - Tuesday 16th July, 2-3pm (BST) - Sign-up link will be shared in a separate post.

All subscribers co-sketching - Thursday 25th July, 7-8pm (BST): https://lu.ma/an1ft7rr

These co-sketching sessions are not recorded, all participants will be muted on entry, but you are welcome to switch your microphone on to chat and or use the text chat function.

I look forward to sharing a golden hour of creativity with you! 💛

What else to expect this month:

• VIDEO (Paid members). Process and time-lapse of a new bird painting, featuring Deep Deep Light watercolours.

• VIDEO (All Subscribers). Sketchbook share and write up from my trip to Wales and Skomer Island. Carried over from last month.

• VIDEO (All Subscribers). The first in a swatching series of Deep Deep Light Watercolours. To begin with i’m swatching Deep Forest collection, thank you to

  Sarah Lovell
  for suggesting these.

  If you are new here, I’ve recently become a brand ambassador for Deep Deep Light watercolours. More details in this unboxing post, which includes a 10% discount code for my subscribers and 15% discount for paid members.

  Unboxing of Deep Deep Light Watercolours

Giveaway!

I’ll be organising a giveaway of Deep Deep Light watercolours this month, here on Substack and Instagram. if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, you can find me here:

emmaillustrates

A post shared by @emmaillustrates

Chat Threads

If you’re unfamiliar with the chat function on Substack, it’s kind of like a group chat or live hangout. I love this space as it’s a great way for us to get to know each other and encourage supportive conversation among The Creative Flock members. Chat works best in the app, but you can join in on desktop too.

I have two threads:

Every Friday: Share Good Stuff from your Week (all members)

At the beginning of each month: Member Chat. (paid members). This is a creative chat thread for paid members to dip into at any time during the month. It can be used to chat with the Creative Flock community, drop in recommendations, ask me questions, or share creative highs or woes. This is the link to July’s member chat:

I’d love to know what you think of this month’s theme, and i’m also curious to know, what’s your favourite bird?