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Written by David
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Sunday, 09 September 2007 |
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I found a Common Shrew, dead, on the river towpath the other day, so took it home and used it as reference for this small watercolour. Seven working hours and some eye strain later, the painting ended up a little larger than life size. I'm working my way down to doing a Pygmy Shrew!
Common Shrew. 3.5” x 3” watercolour and acrylic on Grey Bockingford watercolour paper
As models for the artist, living shrews are hyperactive and difficult to observe, moving almost faster than the eye can register, but there are periods of sudden rest in between these bouts of intense foraging for insects, spiders, woodlice and worms etc.
The Common Shrew lives life in the fast lane and packs a lot of activity into its one year of life, if its lucky enough to survive that long. Many fall prey to owls, stoats, weasels, foxes and cats. It is widespread on mainland Britain and common in most areas of fields, hedgerows, gardens and around woodlands.
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