Starling

Description

Starling

Starlings are one of the most common birds in the UK and one of the most underestimated. In overcast light they appear largely black, and they have a reputation for being noisy and aggressive at garden feeders. Catch one in direct sunlight and the plumage is shot through with iridescent green, purple, and bronze — a level of colour that most people have never noticed because they have not been looking for it. UK starling numbers have fallen by around 80% since the 1970s, making what seems like a common urban bird actually a species of conservation concern. Sheffield and other urban areas retain breeding populations, but numbers are significantly lower than they were a generation ago.

Starlings are also responsible for murmurations — large, coordinated aerial displays involving thousands of birds, most common at dusk in late autumn and winter.

The First Painting Back

This was the first painting I completed after a break of nearly three and a half years. The reference photograph was taken by TheOtherKev and shared on Pixabay. I chose the starling partly for the challenge of the iridescent plumage, and partly because it felt like a good subject to come back to. The full story is in my blog post: Birding and Painting.

The Painting Process

Working in my Sheffield home studio, I completed this piece in a single painting session using oils on a 6 × 6 inch Ampersand Gessobord panel. Capturing the iridescent quality of the plumage — the way the greens and purples shift with the light — requires careful colour mixing and layering without pushing the result into something that reads as artificial.

Original Artwork Details

This original oil painting is unframed. For advice on framing please refer to How to Frame a Painting on a Panel.

Specifications:

• Medium: Oil on gessobord panel
• Size: 6 × 6 inches (~ 15 × 15 cm)
• Depth: 0.3 cm (~ 1/8 inch)
• Unframed
• 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.