h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Here's a sketch I drew today of the Lesser Honeyguide (Indicator minor) chowing down on honeycomb in my garden:

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Wildlife%20Photos/Heuningwyser2b.jpg

Here are the honeycombs, sans honeyguide ... it of course wouldn't sit still so I can get close enough for an actual photo:

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Wildlife%20Photos/Heuningkoeke2.jpg

This nest hangs beneath the branches of an Outeniqua Yellowwood Tree in my garden. It looks as if the bees have abandoned it by now. I think they're planning to start a new nest in a neighbouring tree ... I saw a whole bundle of them there yesterday.

I am still hearing the greater honeyguide (Indicator indicator) in the neighbourhood, but so far hasn't seen it in my garden.

Some of you might find yourself quite capable of comprehending the Latin names of these birds ...

That is a lovely sketch

and that nest is huge!

I am astounded! What a huge lot of honey combs.

Your detailed sketch is so lifelike Willem, thanks for sharing.

How long did the sketch take? You must have such a lot of patience to get it all to be so perfect.

Hello and thanks Peanut and Lanzababy! I took about three hours with this sketch. Didn't want to rush things. The details are not quite perfect ... the head is a little bit too big and the feet not quite right either. I changed the honeycombs a bit as well to simplify the sketch. But I am satisfied. I will try and make a colour painting of this, I think it will work well, what do you think?

I'm no artist Willem, but I love the golden colour of the combs, in contrast with the fresh green of the leaves. I also like the flash of sunlight falling across the honeycomb. If you could capture any of that, the picture would be just stunning.

I think it would work well.

It is quite something to see you go from a journal, in which you accidently wrote an entry, to then sketch and hopefully paint

Beautiful.

Gracious, I am really impressed by the size of that hive. If it is abandoned can you get the honey from the combs safely? Around here there are black and yellow waspy things called hornets that are REALLY BAD news. I think an individual can sting you multiple times!

Nice photo -you'll make a lovely painting I'm sure. I hope it has warmed up a bit where you are.

Beautiful detailed sketch Willem.

I agree, the color of the honey and the size of the hive
is an excellent choice for a painting.

First I thought water colors. The honey, would be difficult to get such brillance in water color,and a shame to miss it. Nice for a paintings background.

Hello Abbi and thanks for your comments! Actually I think I could pull this off as a watercolour painting. But currently I'm working on it as a digital painting. Completing it will have to wait until I have a proper computer monitor again, though.

I believe you could Willem !
I look forward to seeing all the mediums you'll use.