I agree...he is the best in the business.. I bought a copy of Ray's book "Wild Portraits" back in the late 1980's.. It is one of my most cherished books. I am a nature painter myself and, although I do not copy his artwork, studying his level of detail convinced me that striving for realism in my art pieces is paramount. I also am a huge fan of the works of Norman Rockwell.... Like Ray Harris-Ching, Norman Rockwell knew that a good painting needed no explaination....the whole story is right there in the painting. Cheers
I would like to see that collection! In the early '90's I was in contact with a gallery out of Washington D.C. The gallery owner called me and said he had an early book of Ray's that I had never seen before, said he would send it to me. Printing quality was sub par but of course you could tell the paintings were magnificent. When I finally spoke to the gallery owner about the price it was extremely high and I had to pass. He was irate! Glad you liked the video and thank you for watching.
As a zoologist who studied in New Zealand, I have been familiar with Ray Harris Ching's work for many years. His Book of British Birds is a staple ... a wonderful piece of work. The painting of his daughter Rachel ... breathtaking. Your homage to him here is a credit to you both. Thank you, Henry.
HenryWilliamRiffeII Lol. I wish I had a voice like yours! I have a copy of the Reader's Digest bird book, too, though it's very old and tattered now. You can see the difference in the quality of his painting as the pressure of completing them all started to overcome him. His health suffered from that commission, but it made him. I've read his studio floor at that time was littered with hundreds of cigarette butts. He lives in the UK now, in Bradford on Avon, I believe. He uses stuffed birds and places them into the poses he desires. Many of the great wildlife artists are getting old; Bateman, Brenders, Ching, and some, like Bill Cooper and Basil Ede have already signed out. Still, there's always the next generation to look forward to.
Nice tribute Henry and well deserved. The impact The Book of British Birds had on me and other youngsters in 1970 Britain was immediate and led to a life long love of birds.
I wish It was true and I was related to him I'm a UK artist and a real big fan of his work love the video and thanks for the info regarding his Sir name too best wishes Greg Harris @@henrywilliamriffeii7425
Great video. I just got hold of a 1st Edition copy of Book Of British Birds, especially for the artwork (although being British I am very in to UK and European birds). It's a beautiful book and Ray is a master!
You have a real talent for profiling these artists. You just get to the point, and your enthusiasm shines like a beckon. I have watched this several times. Do you think you'll be doing anymore? If not. Thanks very much for everything, a wonderful job.
Hi Ken, thank you for your kind remarks. I have been busy with my art and neglected my channel, I sure need to get back to these. I enjoy doing them and hope they inspire someone. Thank you again, have a great New Year!
I love his work the attention to detail is amazing. I have a limited edition kestrel on a sack 123/850 signed by Raymond Harris Ching. Bought from THE TRYON GALLERY LTD would like to know the value of it.
That is a great one. Not sure the worth. The wildlife art market was flooded with prints. That is a small edition. Interesting to know the value of Ray's stuff. I'd love to own an original
i think he went off the rails with those silly allegorical paintings he started doing - among other subject matter - but as a bird painter he's an unparalleled genius.
unfortunately, i agree. I would love for someone to do an in depth interview with him. I talked to Graem Stevens years ago at Colour in Your Life. He said he knew Ray and would try to interview him but so far, nothing
@@henrywilliamriffeii7425 oh hi HWR - thanks for your reply. i'm a painter living and working in toronto and i used to be a hard core bird painter when i was young. when i first saw his work - in that big slip cased book "the bird paintings" - i was so overwhelmed i almost quit painting! truly a superhuman talent - and insanely prolific. cheers!
@@delacroix2007 then you surely know Bateman, who to me is the greatest Wild Life painter but his birds looked plastic compared to Ray's. So don't let it get you down. 🙂
@@henrywilliamriffeii7425 yes bateman was the king in the 70' and 80's but his work has not stood the test of time. there's another canadian animal painter named george mclean who (in my opinion) shares with ching the position of greatest animal painter of his (their) generation. maclean and ching are friends and he has done a lot to promote ching's work in north america. check him out if you haven't heard of him, much more of an environmental animal painter - in the sense that the animal's environment plays as important a role in his work as the animal itself.
@@delacroix2007 Oh yes, I know McLean. I like his art but still think overall Bateman is tops. His compositions are just spot on. and his ideas. As you mentioned, Ray's are a bit bizarre.
Thank you sir. This video was probably based on two books, "Ray Harris Ching-Journey of an Artist" and "Wild Life Portraits-Ray Harris Ching". Mr. Ching is truly a master artist, as you say. By the way, subscribed to your channel. Awesome art!
HenryWilliamRiffeII ty so much for subscribing, I will be doing more videos soon. I bought the book of British birds last week which RHC did the illustrations 👍
@@RayFineArt Yes and I forgot about using that book in the video. The owl he painted for the front cover is amazing. Nobody paints feathers like Ray. The other two books I mentioned are far greater representation of Ray's art than the Book of Birds. You would truly be inspired by these as it is like the art you are doing.
Thank you for telling usnabout him, what a great artist!
I agree...he is the best in the business..
I bought a copy of Ray's book "Wild Portraits" back in the late 1980's.. It is one of my most cherished books. I am a nature painter myself and, although I do not copy his artwork, studying his level of detail convinced me that striving for realism in my art pieces is paramount.
I also am a huge fan of the works of Norman Rockwell....
Like Ray Harris-Ching, Norman Rockwell knew that a good painting needed no explaination....the whole story is right there in the painting.
Cheers
I have been collecting Ray's books and been a fan of his work for almost 30 years now. So pleased you made this video.
I would like to see that collection! In the early '90's I was in contact with a gallery out of Washington D.C. The gallery owner called me and said he had an early book of Ray's that I had never seen before, said he would send it to me. Printing quality was sub par but of course you could tell the paintings were magnificent. When I finally spoke to the gallery owner about the price it was extremely high and I had to pass. He was irate! Glad you liked the video and thank you for watching.
As a zoologist who studied in New Zealand, I have been familiar with Ray Harris Ching's work for many years. His Book of British Birds is a staple ... a wonderful piece of work. The painting of his daughter Rachel ... breathtaking. Your homage to him here is a credit to you both. Thank you, Henry.
The greatest bird artist. Unparalleled depictions stunningly executed. All others appear ordinary in comparison.
I wish I would have put it that way. Thanks Mark!
HenryWilliamRiffeII
Lol. I wish I had a voice like yours!
I have a copy of the Reader's Digest bird book, too, though it's very old and tattered now. You can see the difference in the quality of his painting as the pressure of completing them all started to overcome him. His health suffered from that commission, but it made him. I've read his studio floor at that time was littered with hundreds of cigarette butts.
He lives in the UK now, in Bradford on Avon, I believe.
He uses stuffed birds and places them into the poses he desires.
Many of the great wildlife artists are getting old; Bateman, Brenders, Ching, and some, like Bill Cooper and Basil Ede have already signed out. Still, there's always the next generation to look forward to.
Nice tribute Henry and well deserved. The impact The Book of British Birds had on me and other youngsters in 1970 Britain was immediate and led to a life long love of birds.
Wonderful testament to Ray's amazing art. Thank you
thank you for sharing
I just love Rays Harris Ching's work and I was very lucky to purchase one of his books wonderful amazing artwork great video too
Little is known of this living legend. Wished there was more on him. Ray has Harris in his name that may be his Mom's side, you guys related?
I wish It was true and I was related to him I'm a UK artist and a real big fan of his work love the video and thanks for the info regarding his Sir name too best wishes Greg Harris @@henrywilliamriffeii7425
@@gregharris3747 Thank you. Good luck with your art.
Many thanks
This guy is a God.Hes untouched by anyone there's no competition.Never has been.
Agree. Ray is incredible!
Thanks very much for bring us to his attention .
My pleasure. Thank you for watching. Thank you for the kind comments.
Great video. I just got hold of a 1st Edition copy of Book Of British Birds, especially for the artwork (although being British I am very in to UK and European birds). It's a beautiful book and Ray is a master!
You have a real talent for profiling these artists. You just get to the point, and your enthusiasm shines like a beckon. I have watched this several times. Do you think you'll be doing anymore? If not. Thanks very much for everything, a wonderful job.
Hi Ken, thank you for your kind remarks. I have been busy with my art and neglected my channel, I sure need to get back to these. I enjoy doing them and hope they inspire someone. Thank you again, have a great New Year!
I love his work the attention to detail is amazing. I have a limited edition kestrel on a sack 123/850 signed by Raymond Harris Ching. Bought from THE TRYON GALLERY LTD would like to know the value of it.
That is a great one. Not sure the worth. The wildlife art market was flooded with prints. That is a small edition. Interesting to know the value of Ray's stuff. I'd love to own an original
Henry were all the images shown on your presentation all watercolours?
No sir, some were oil and possibly acrylic. Ray can paint in any medium.
i think he went off the rails with those silly allegorical paintings he started doing - among other subject matter - but as a bird painter he's an unparalleled genius.
unfortunately, i agree. I would love for someone to do an in depth interview with him. I talked to Graem Stevens years ago at Colour in Your Life. He said he knew Ray and would try to interview him but so far, nothing
@@henrywilliamriffeii7425 oh hi HWR - thanks for your reply. i'm a painter living and working in toronto and i used to be a hard core bird painter when i was young. when i first saw his work - in that big slip cased book "the bird paintings" - i was so overwhelmed i almost quit painting! truly a superhuman talent - and insanely prolific. cheers!
@@delacroix2007 then you surely know Bateman, who to me is the greatest Wild Life painter but his birds looked plastic compared to Ray's. So don't let it get you down. 🙂
@@henrywilliamriffeii7425 yes bateman was the king in the 70' and 80's but his work has not stood the test of time. there's another canadian animal painter named george mclean who (in my opinion) shares with ching the position of greatest animal painter of his (their) generation. maclean and ching are friends and he has done a lot to promote ching's work in north america. check him out if you haven't heard of him, much more of an environmental animal painter - in the sense that the animal's environment plays as important a role in his work as the animal itself.
@@delacroix2007 Oh yes, I know McLean. I like his art but still think overall Bateman is tops. His compositions are just spot on. and his ideas. As you mentioned, Ray's are a bit bizarre.
Thanks for making this video, he was a true master painter. What was the name of the book you used please?
Thank you sir. This video was probably based on two books, "Ray Harris Ching-Journey of an Artist" and "Wild Life Portraits-Ray Harris Ching". Mr. Ching is truly a master artist, as you say. By the way, subscribed to your channel. Awesome art!
HenryWilliamRiffeII ty so much for subscribing, I will be doing more videos soon. I bought the book of British birds last week which RHC did the illustrations 👍
@@RayFineArt Yes and I forgot about using that book in the video. The owl he painted for the front cover is amazing. Nobody paints feathers like Ray. The other two books I mentioned are far greater representation of Ray's art than the Book of Birds. You would truly be inspired by these as it is like the art you are doing.
HenryWilliamRiffeII I will have a search on amazon for them, many thanks my friend 👍🎨
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