Red and Green

11"x14" acrylic on slate

Everyone loves Cardinals....what's not to like about them?

Day 27 Slate - Bluebird

14"x11" acrylic on slate

He is a regal looking guy isn't he.  I am making good progress on the studio, doing a little bit each day.  If I get it to a place where it looks lovely, I may post a photo.

Day 17 Slate - Downy Woodpecker

11"x17"  Acrylic on slate 

We get a lot of Downy Woodpeckers at our crabapple tree, in part because it is getting old and is full of insects, and also because we have a suet feeder.  They can be pretty piggish about their eating habits at the feeder, staying for long periods of time and sucking down that seed filled fat.  I think I need to do bluebirds and cardinals, but I need to change subject matter for the moment.  I think I have a short attention span.  So this will be the last bird for a  while.

Day 16 Slate - Tufted Titmouse

11"x14" acrylic on slate

Another frequent flier that has layovers at my bird feeder.

Day 15 Slate - Dark Eyed Juncos

11"x14"  acrylic on slate

This is a sweet little bird familiar to residents all over America.  While the chickadees and nuthatches flit among the trees, the Mourning Doves and Juncos can be found under the bird feeders on the ground.  The Mourning Doves walk and the Juncos hop.

Day 14 Slate - Mourning Doves

11"x14" acrylic on slate

Mourning doves have such an interesting shape with their round little heads and plump bodies.  The dots on their wings remind me of Lady Bugs.  In England Lady Bugs are called Lady Birds, but I think Mourning Doves could comfortably embrace that monicker.

Day 13 - nuthatches

11"x14" acrylic on slate

Onward and upward with the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  I have been painting the birds I see outside my window, like these interesting nuthatches, painted slightly more blue than they appear in R.L. (real life) so that they contrast with the gray background slate.

Day 12 Slate - Chickadees

11"x14" acrylic on slate

Chickadees are the sweetest little song birds.  They have the perfect "cute" shape are sociable and don't descend in frantic hoards.  They also have lovely markings and are one of my absolute favorites at the bird feeder.

Also Keepers of the Beauty

11" x 11"  oil  SOLD

First I must give my apologies to Dreama Tolle Perry because I stole her title.  She is a phenomenal artist and writer and posted on her blog about those who are "Keeper of Beauty."  I was doing this commission at the time I read her post, and knew that the owners of this lovely garden are one couple Dreama was referring to.  There are a lot of details in this composition, but I wanted to tell the story of the architecture of the plantings, the allure of the koi pond, the babbling of the brook and bird songs, and the sculptural references.  Unfortunately there is a glare on both sides of this photo, making the edges look washed out.

30-30 Challenge #24

2"x4.5" acrylic

This is #24 in the 30 day painting challenge.  I am so glad I decided to do miniatures as I have learned a lot including the importance of composition.  I missed that a bit with this one as the top bird is not quite positioned at the most advantageous place.  But my main concern with this one is that it looks like the wings are moving and I think I got that.  Value is so important in painting and I continue to see that when something isn't working, frequently it has something to do with the values (light and dark) against each other.

Fluffed Out 6"x6" acrylic

This is a large-ish, fluffed out house finch on a chilly, almost winter day.  The last few days I have noticed that the house finches that are showing up are a bit thinner and more ragged looking.  It is like those of us who choose to stay in a cold climate....we are survivors but a little rough on the edges!

Hollywood 4"x4" acrylic

One thing you can say about bluejays is that despite their loud squawking and bullyish behavior, they are stunning to look at.  Kind of reminds me of Hollywood!

Nuthatch 4"x4" oil

I love the way nuthatches hang upside down and flit around.  Still having fun with my new painting toys.

 
   

Downy Woodpecker 4"x4" oil

A Downy Woodpecker on a Sumac bush.  Sumac bushes are so cool looking....very graphic when the sun shines through them and casts strong shadows.  The berries are fuzzy, more seed-like but they make a good lemonadish drink when you brew them.  I love the red against the background of heavy snow clouds.  This is more playing around with my new spatula brushes.

Chickadee 4"x4" oil

Cardinal 4"x4" oil

I am trying out some new things.  I got some spatula type paint brushes as a gift.  They are similar to a palette knife, but shaped like a paint brush.  Anyway, they are really fun to use...it was like being a child again and just playing.  I have been wanting to do some birds as I have a pretty nice bird sanctuary outside my studio window and was inspired by Angela Moulton's beautiful little paintings of birds.