Goldfinch in the Rain

Description

Goldfinches in a Sheffield Garden

Goldfinches are one of the more reliable garden visitors in Sheffield, especially if nyjer seed is on offer. They tend to arrive in small groups — a “charm” is the collective noun — and rarely stay still for long. In summer they range more widely, and garden visitors are often birds that bred locally in Sheffield’s parks and hedgerows, or juveniles dispersing after fledging.

This species has done well in urban Sheffield. Gardens with nyjer feeders or teasel plants attract them year-round, and they’re one of the more recognisable garden birds — the red face and yellow wing bars are hard to miss. They’re also vocal, and their high-pitched contact calls often give away their presence before you spot them.

An Unexpected Photography Session

This photograph was taken in my Sheffield garden on a rainy summer day. I hadn’t set out expecting much — overcast skies and rain aren’t the obvious conditions for wildlife photography. But the goldfinches were active and seemed unbothered by the weather, perching on branches between visits to the feeders.

The conditions suited the photograph better than I expected. Without direct sunlight the background darkened considerably, and the goldfinch’s colours came through cleanly against it. Rain-soaked feathers also give birds a slightly ruffled look that can be more interesting to paint than sleek, dry plumage.

The Painting Process

I painted this in my Sheffield home studio in December 2025, using oils on a 6 × 6 inch (~ 15 × 15 cm) Ampersand Gessobord panel. The main challenge was the contrast — keeping the background dark and rich without losing depth, and the bird’s colours staying clean against it.

Framed or Unframed

Choose the framed option and it arrives ready to hang. The frame is natural ayous, a pale, lightweight hardwood, with a 7mm face and 21mm depth. The panel sits inside it with a 5mm gap all round, so the painted edge of the panel stays visible and the picture appears to float inside the frame rather than sitting against it. A flush mount is already fitted to the back for hanging.

If you would rather choose your own frame, you can buy it unframed. For advice please refer to How to Frame a Painting on a Panel.

Original Artwork Details

Specifications:

• Medium: Oil on gessobord panel
• Size: 6 × 6 inches (~ 15 × 15 cm)
• Depth: 0.3 cm (~ 1/8 inch)
• Available framed or unframed
• Framed size: approximately 17.6 × 17.6 cm (~ 7 × 7 inches)
• Frame: natural ayous, 7mm face, 21mm depth, 5mm float gap, flush mount fitted
• Year: 2025
• Signed on reverse

Shipping & Care

Your painting will be carefully packaged with protective materials and shipped via Royal Mail within 3-5 business days. The panel is robust and archival – oil paintings on panel have been proven to last for centuries when properly cared for. Display away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity for best longevity.