I must write to congratulate you on “Ten Days to Paint the Forest”. The wildlife photography is fascinating as is observing the different artists at work. The attention to the details of form and colour shown as the artist worked on his paintings, demonstrated to me the difference between looking and seeing.
Dr. A. Hodge
PC
I thought the video was wonderful and am full of admiration. I loved seeing the artists actually creating their paintings – and such beautiful birds. It is uplifting to hear of conservation in South America, when so much has been destroyed. I do hope you have lots of success with the film
J. Marquart
Norwich
Richard Millington Birding World March 2005 (www.birdingworld.co.uk)
‘Ten Days’ is also a bird video, and there is footage of 30 speciality
species, ranging from Elegant Crescentchest and White-winged Guan through
to White-tailed Jay and Marvellous Spatuletail, to enjoy.
Whether it be the sequences of a luminous oriole visiting the ‘local pub’
or Tumbesian Swifts tumbling acrobatically into their roost-hole, there
are fabulous images that replay in the mind well after the video ends.
And there are mammals to see, including Spectacled Bears and Tamandua. With
so much to experience in such a short time, Richard and Julia Kemp have produced
a video full of great beauty and thought-provoking insights, yet which imparts
a true sense of place.
To read the
complete article click here
Torben Back Sørensen 10/01/2007
I received the "Forest" DVD a few days ago - thank you for that.
I have seen it quite a few times and I am very much impressed. I mean the
filming - and that is obviously you - is just superb. Must have been wonderful
to see the Condor "live" performing as a true aviator. What I like
about the DVD is the combination of watching the artists doing their quick
sketching / painting with their own few comments here and there and then the
in depth, very informative comments form Bruce Pearson about the landscape,
scenery and wildlife. I think one of his funny comments were: ".......in
this hot climate it seems my oil pastels turn into soft butter......"
!
Even though I am so impressed with Lars’s painting, I really enjoy watching the other artists and see their very impressive results they all achieved. For me watching the DVD gives me so much inspiration and I must say envy those who were there. The landscape and people seems to be very friendly. Unfortunately it is a part of the World that I did not see during my aviation career.
I really hope there will be a lot more films coming from your "workshop"
in the future.
Email 30/10/2005
I have at last got round to watching your video, and it's just lovely! I think
some of the 'commercial' wildlife documentary-makers could take some hints
from you, especially with regard to background sounds and music. It is a joy
not to be deafened by loud inappropriate music, but to get the sounds of the
local environment, musicians and people, and to be brought right into the
feelings and art of the human participants. What a place to visit!
Marjorie Beebee
Email 2411/04
I found it very entertaining and informative. Obviously a very important area
to be conserved, with such a fantastic variety of birds and mammals.
Editor of Wildscap
From Dereham Times 4 Nov 2004
Couple look to give reserve helping hand with wildlife
film
A remarkable film detailing some of South America's rare and unusual
wildlife has been made by two Norfolk film makers.
Richard and Julia Kemp, of Whitwell, have a long history of travelling the
world filming wildlife, having worked for ITV's Survival.
But their latest film, 10 Days to Paint the Forest, could raise valuable funds
to help poor communities in Ecuador and Peru protect their natural world.
The film follows a group of international artists as they draw and paint the
dry forests of Ecuador and Peru while explaining their motives and feelings
about their work.
The film features extraordinary footage of the Spectacled Bear, Andean Condor
and Amazilia Hummingbird
Email of
The quality of the photography
and the beauty of the subjects, as well as the adequate time given to them
are very satisfying to watch. Just to mention two of the many outstanding
sections, over a minute is given to Humming Birds bathing and drinking at
a small spring. It is captivating. The other is the artists waiting for and
the filming of the actual arrival of the two and a half thousand Tumbes
Swifts which roost in a hollow tree over the border in
This video puts reality
into the 2004 PROJECT of the British Birdwatching
Fair. Birders read about the Tumbesian Region of
But bird conservation is
about habitat protection and the need for the local communities to be involved
and supportive. This presentation traces the pathway of how that comes about.
It is about the people of
It is about Conservationists as well. The extremely natural way in which the artists are introduced to the area and seeing them at work concentrates the mind on the subjects. It’s great to put a face to many of the names we are familiar with. Could this way of doing things set a precedent for coming years? The educational value of a video like this must not be under-rated. It would have been marvellous if there had been videos based on the Project Areas at previous Bird Fairs. Potentially this could be a major step forward in extending the usefulness of the Fairs both educationally and financially.
Most Birders have some interest in other animals, especially such spectacular creatures as the Spectacled Bears. There is excellent footage of these including a very amusing sequence involving a Keeper and a very friendly large cub.
There is something for everyone in this video and it is a very suitable one to show to other members of the family who may not share the intensity of our interest in birds and their conservation. Christmas is coming. Put it on your wanted list and you will not be disappointed.
I sincerely hope that it will be possible for you to be involved in a similar project in coming years.
(My wife has read this and thoroughly agrees).
Clive Peat, Sheffield
PC
I love watching the paintings come to life – it gives it an edge over other
wildlife films and makes it something very special.
BBC Wildlife Magazine
A fascinating wildlife/culture video of the Artists for Nature Foundation
trip to the dry forest of Peru and Ecuador. The international group of artists
included Lars Jonsson, Vadim Gorbatov, Kim Atkinson and many more, and the
video shows them at work in the breathtaking Tumbesian habitat. There is also
extraordinary footage of spectacled bears and white winged guans, endemic
hummingbirds, rare marvellous spatuletails and an Andean condor.
Expert narration is provided by Bruce Pearson
