A Couple of Red Bird of Paradise

This is the drawing of A Couple of Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra). I often watch these beautiful birds when I guide tourists on a hiking and birding tour in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. The drawing is now available as prints on various products of redbubble such as t-shirt, mugs, iPhone case, pillows, and etc. Please, have a look at this link: Bird of Paradise Art

Red Bird of Paradise

I made the drawing using Autodesk Sketchbook. In real world, most often, there are several male birds that dance in the top branches of a tree. They compete to win the female Red Bird of Paradise for mating. The courtship dance performance usually occurs in the mornings at 06.00 to 09.00 and in the afternoons from 15.00 to 17.30.
In addition to Red Bird of Paradise, we also see other tropical birds such as Beautiful Fruit Dove, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Eclectus Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow-faced Myna, Hooded Butcherbird, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Beach Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher and a lot more.
Participants of the tour need to bring binoculars in order to watch them. A powerful spotting scope made by Leica, Nikon, or Swarovski can greatly enhance the birding experience. I personally use Visionking roof prism 10×42mm binoculars. They are not the best but good enough for watching birds and other things in distant trees.

10x42 mm Visionking binoculars

For taking pictures, I recommend D-SLR camera with Tamron G2 or Sigma Sport 150-600mm lenses. Bridge camera such as Nikon P1000, Nikon P900, or Canon SX60HS can also produce good quality photos.
If you are interested in taking a birdwatching tour or sketch tour with me in Raja Ampat, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by text message to: +6281332245180.

Red Bird of Paradise doing Pole Dance

I have just made more sketches of Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra). The bird can be seen in the forest of Raja Ampat particularly in Waigeo, Gam and Batanta. The male birds like to compete one another by performing courtship dance in top pole-like branches of a tree.

Black and White Sketch Study of Red Bird of Paradise

Red Bird of Paradise

Digital drawing of Red Bird of Paradise

I used pencil and paper as well as colored pencil to study the basic form and colors of the paradise birds. After that, I developed my artwork digitally using Android based Autodesk Sketchbook application, Samsung Galaxy Tab A and its stylus.
I personally like to go back and forth between manual drawing and digital coloring to achieve good result. The final version of this artwork can be seen at this web-page: Red Bird of Paradise.
Also read:
Red Bird of Paradise from Raja Ampat Islands
Vector drawing of Red Bird of Paradise
Male Red Bird of Paradise

Digital Sketch of A Wooden Canoe

by Charles Roring
A few hours ago, I was in a fast passenger ferry traveling from Waisai town of Raja Ampat to Pelabuhan Rakyat (People's Harbor) of Sorong city. The boat was full of people both local and tourists. It took approximately 2 hours to reach Sorong.
I decided to open Autodesk Sketchbook application and began to draw. At first, I did not know what to draw. I just drew lines after lines and then they slowly formed an object that I frequently saw at sea when traveling in Raja Ampat. It was a small canoe. Usually both ends of it were pointed. But here, in this archipelago, people cut one of its end to form a flat stern where they could install a small outboard engine. A 15 horse power engine was the usual prime mover of the boat. However, if the boat was bigger, it could be installed with one or two 40-hp Yamaha outboard engines. This motorized canoe was used by islanders to transport people and goods. They often raised the walls of the canoe by adding wooden planks and reinforced them with wooden ribs.
I continued to draw the background of the boat by adding green vegetation. In thirty minutes, I was able to finish my drawing.

Dug out Canoe from Raja Ampat islands

After that I took a short brake by trying to lean and sleep on the upright seat of the boat. Well, I could only close my eyes without fully falling asleep. Arriving in Sorong, I continued my trip to KFC fast food resto in Saga Mall to have my late lunch.
Well, I am now in the KFC writing this post about the dug-out canoe that I drew while in the fast ferry boat.

Male Red Bird of Paradise

Drawing of male Red Bird of Paradise

I often go to Raja Ampat to guide tourists who want to watch birds in the forest. One of the most important watching targets is Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra). The bird lives in the islands of Waigeo, Gam and Batanta. They can be found deep in the forest. We have to wake up at 04.30 to make preparations such as wearing dark green t-shirt and hiking shoes. Before leaving for the observation site, we need to drink some coffee, tea and eat biscuits or bread. 

At 05.00 we usually start hiking to the lek of Red Bird of Paradise. It takes approximately 1 hour to reach it. The footpath is narrow and it is still dark when we walk. We have to use flashlight. Some parts of the path are steep. One hour later, we will arrive at the lek. The light from the rising sun begins to reach the canopy of the forest. It is the time when male Red Birds of Paradise fly to their lek and begin calling their female counterparts. 

I usually bring a pair of 10×42 mm Visionking binoculars. This birding device greatly enhances my birdwatching experience. The tour participants who I guide bring even better binoculars such as the ones that are manufactured by Nikon, Leica or Swarovski. 

When the female Red BOP comes, the male ones will start performing their courtship dances. They compete one another to win the heart of the female Red Bird of Paradise. Sometimes hey fight. The male Red Bird of Paradise that presents the best dance and beautiful feather will receive green light from the female Red BOP for mating. The whole show ends at 09.00. Its the time when we walk back to the beach and return to the guesthouse where we stay.

In my opinion, Red Bird of Paradise is a very beautiful bird. So, it will be nice if I can make some drawings of the bird. I have made some drawings of paradise birds that I upload into my accound in redbubble shop. The drawing in this post was created on 29 July 2019. 

It is now available as prints on various products such as t-shirts, mugs, water bottles, iPhone or Samsung Galaxy skins/ cases, pillows, scarfs, and even spiral notebooks, tote bags, zipper pouch, and laptop sleeve. 

If you are interested in buying some of them, please, visit my redbubble page: Red Bird of Paradise.
If you are interested in visiting Raja Ampat islands to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, as well as hiking and watching Red Bird of Paradise, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Rhododendron

I have just created a digital drawing of flower today. Its name is Rhododendron zoelleri. The flower plants live Arfak mountains. I saw the flowers when I guided 2 American tourists on a five day hiking and birding trips. The rhododendron flowers have got bright color petals.

Rhododendron flower

In the mornings when the weather is good and bright, and the sunlight reach the flowers, birdwing butterflies can often be seen hopping or hovering from one flower to another to collect nectar.
Drawing has been my favorite hobby for years. Visitors of this blog who wants to see my visual artworks open this web-page: drawing portoflio.

Rain Lily

Here is the digital illustration of Rain Lily (Zephyranthes rosea). It is a grass flower. I created it using Inkscape - a vector drawing program. The flower is small and can easily be seen in the front-yard of houses in tropical region. It is very beautiful pink/ red flower. That's the reason I make this drawing. It looks fresh in the morning light after a good rain in the previous night.

Rain Lily

I like drawing with the classic media using pencil and colored pencils or watercolour on paper but I also know how to draw digitally. Now, I use Autodesk Sketchbook if I want to make a digital artwork. My device is Samsung Galaxy Tab A with S-pen. 

The Rain Lily is available in prints on various kinds of products of Redbubble from poster, canvas print, and art board to sticker, throw pillow, t-shirt. Please, visit my online Redbubble shop to have a look at them: Rain Lily.

Pale Blue Monarch

I have just completed drawing a bird called Pale Blue Monarch. First, I created a sketch using ordinary graphite 2B pencil on a small piece of paper. I considered it as a kind of practice to study the shape of the body, wings, head, legs and claws of the bird. The Pale Blue Monarch is a bird that lives in lowland rainforest of Sulawesi. It is a beautiful bird.
I saw it when I was guiding Taiwanese tourists on a birdwatching trip to Dumoga Bone National Park and Tangkoko Nature Reserve in the province of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. He was hopping from one branch of a tree to another.

Pale Blue Monarch from Sulawesi island

Birds play important role in maintaining and preserving rainforest. They disperse seeds from the fruits that they eat. They also work as pest controller. They eat flies, beetles, work, butterflies, spiders and other small insects. By eating insects, birds curb the exploition of insect population thus maintaining the balance of forest ecosystem.
After creating the sketch on paper, I photographed it and transferred it into my tablet. I used Samsung Tab A with S-pen. It was a great tablet. The drawing application that I used was Autodesk Sketchbook. Because I made this drawing in my leisure time, it took around 2 weeks for me to finish it. Actually, I could finish it in one or two days.
Now the higher resolution version of the above drawing is available in prints on various products such as mug, studio pouch, iPhone skin, t-shirt, draw-string bag and a lot more. Please, visit my Redbubble Shop to order the artwork: Pale Blue Monarch

Old Wooden Harbor

Approximately in 2011, I guided a German girl who was traveling to Manokwari as a tourist. We visited islands, forest and some interesting places inside this small town. Pelabuhan Anggrem was one that we visited. It was a small wooden harbor for boats that transported goods and people along the coastal villages of Manokwari regency.

Anggrem Harbor in Manokwari city

The harbor was very basic. It was only made of wooden pillars and planks nailed together to provide a stable platform for people to get into and out of the boats or load and unload cargoes. I made a drawing of the harbor on a small sized paper. I used Derwent watercoloured pencils.
Several years later the whole landscape changed. The wooden structures have been replaced by concrete platforms. The harbor can serve bigger vessels now.
When I see my drawing again, I smile. My town that was slow, and little has now grown into a city that is growing larger and larger. The above drawing is now available on such print on demand products as mugs, t-shirt, dress, drawstring bag, and etc. at this link: Wooden Jetty.

Moorish Idol

I have just uploaded a drawing to my Redbubble account. Its title is Moorish Idol. It is now available in the various kinds of Print On Demand products such as women's t-shirt, leggings, iPhone case, and even clock. To make this drawing, first, I drew a sketch on my book using graphite 2B pencil. After that I redraw it again on my tablet using Autodesk  Sketchbook app. When it was ready, I uploaded the digital illustration into Redbubble website.
Moorish Idol a is tropical fish that lives in tropical waters especially in coral reef environment. The fish is believed as the Bringer of Happiness.

Moorish Idol

I saw the fish when I went snorkeling and freediving in coral reef area near my hometown Manokwari. It was swimming in the drop off part of the coral reef.
This beautiful fish looks similar to butterflyfish. Actually they are from different species. Moorish Idol and other tropical fish are often caught by fish hunters to be sold to aquarium owners. This practice often causes serious damage to the environment. The fish is omnivore. In most cases, Moorish Idol cannot survive in a small aquarium because of the lack of food.
We need to preserve this important marine habitat by stopping all activities that are harmful to the environment. We also must reduce the use of plastics.
Please, support this effort by clicking this Moorish Idol and buying one of the available products that you like.

Clownfish and Anemone

When I guide tourist on a snorkeling tour in Raja Ampat islands, Tambrauw coast and Manokwari beach of West Papua, I will always look for clownfish. This small fish usually lives in a small colony of anemone. Because a sting from an anemone is harmful to other fish, clownfish that have developed certain resistance on his body makes anemone as its home. Anemone provides protection and the clownfish provide food from the leftovers that it releases. So, the fish is also called anemonefish.

I usually approach anemonefish at depths of 2 to 10 meters below sea surface. With an underwater camera, I take a picture of this beautiful fish. Some anemonefish will hide deeper inside the tentacles of the anemone but other species tend to chase me in order to drive me away from their territory.
Today I made an illustration of this marine animal and uploaded it into my Redbubble account. So, its prints are now available on such products as pillows, clock, sticker, studio pouch, drawstring bag, and a lot more. Please, click this link anemone clownfish to buy some of them.
If you are interested in traveling to West Papua province of Indonesia to enjoy snorkeling over pristine coral reef, you could hire me as your guide. The snorkeling tours can be combined with hiking, birding and wildlife watching tour in the rainforest of Tambrauw mountains or Manokwari. Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Also read:

• Baby Turtle Crawling to the Open Sea
• Dolphins jumping out of the waves