Years ago I sat on some cliffs in Scotland waiting for the return of the puffins to their nesting area. apparently I was too early but the hours of sitting still and observing life was worth it.The Atlantic Puffin has a different look in that it's more comical yet this is one serious seabird. Many of the animal I choose to paint are from photos I take at the zoo etc but I needed to rely on google for this one and it was difficult because of the light source of the different photographers as well as their choice of angles. However it was a fun assignment to give myself as I revisited a wonderful memory.

GOING NORTH

From the Tufted Puffin to a Moose. It was a jump made last week in the studio to throw myself into a contrast of form and detail of a different kind. Feathers to fur and so on. What is pestering me after posting this image is that the moose seems too close in value to the background. That my be good for the moose but not necessarily with regard to the painting. So back to the easel of life.

One of joys in moving to Oregon from Ohio years ago was to experience seeing the tufted puffin. I was fascinated by this energetic bird and still am so I decided to try and paint one.

I thought this would be like a coloring book assignment as I observed the clown like shapes and colors of the puffin's face then it took a short time to realize the complexity of my pallet and the delicate way every feature juxtaposed in or over another.

THE COMMON LOON AND DETAILS

I seem to have been birding a lot lately with painting images, the goldfinch, Black Headed Grosbeak, Cardinal, Northern Flicker, Chickadee and now the Common Loon. There is not an intension for the National Audubon painters competition going on here. Just a celebration in learning how the aviary world is a flying show of delicate intricacies of feather details, geometric patterns, color and composition. I am greatly humbled by this brief introduction so far.

THE COMMON LOON

BEING BUSY

There are times in the studio when one needs to put their head down and simply concentrate on paintings and develop a flow that threads out into those times when it isn't possible.

The last weeks have been like that and has allowed me the opportunity to create the Northern Flicker , the Common Loon as well as make a fun contact and wholesale relationship with a local store called Backyard Bird Shop.

Also a gallery in Minnesota has signed on for images on cards as well. The Attic Gallery of American Crafts.

Hopefully these contacts will help with the costs of being able to continue this fun endeavor.

A BEAUTIFUL LOSS

I never thought there would be the day I would have a caged bird in the house. We inherited Frak after losing my mother to cancer two years ago. What a gift he was! Loved to sing to Bette Middler and Willie Nelson even while bathing. Came into his beastly self when hanging outside on the sunny porch. Such bravado, such color, such personality in 5 grams of his little orange self. He died last week. I miss him so.

STILL HAVING AVIARY FUN

Not sure when I will come out of this bird series with the sky and garden so populated by colors flying and songs a sing"n.

The Black-headed Grosbeak is something to behold when it lands in your garden. Mine came out a little too orange but it was fun to celebrate the markings on such a handsome bird passing through.

My style is expressionistic whether it be in my figurative work or wildlife. That keeps me out of unhappy behaviors of frustration and brooding.

SMALL CANVASES FOR SMALL BIRDS

To say a painting is finished is another way of saying "That's as far as I want to go with this right now." I could spend years playing with all the wonderful features on this magnificent bird I grew up with in Ohio.

Painting small birds on small 6"x8"canvases seems proportional and adaptable to small working tools such as brushes and knives. Truly a challenge for someone who prefers big.

I wish mother nature had dropped a few Cardinals in Oregon when passing through. Such a spirited call.

CARDINALS AND RED

This image has a ways to go. The cardinal is easily distorted when painting it's image . For instance, the crest makes the head appear too big for it's body. Also there is so much beautiful red that it seems to consume the details of shoulders, wings, feathers. By researching further tonight I hope to finish him tomorrow.

STILL LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS

Can't seem to let go of exploring birds with paint. Being from Ohio, cardinals are a big part of growing up. Even as a child their absolute red and black was cause for a watch and a smile.

The lines are not quite right yet but the cobalt blue is a must.

TRY, TRY AGAINtoughttough

No it isn't the same painting as the last post or rather it is but with adjustments to the head, chest, beak, feet, background etc.

In experimenting to attempt painting birds, I have come to realize that when there isn't a significant and obvious muscle form visible beneath the surface the task is complexed.

THE BLOG HABIT

I'm beginning to realize that the tell tale signs of being disorganized and too spread out in one's studio work and that is the absence of updates to the blog.

Finally, there is rhythm to canvas projects going on in the studio which means there is also rhythm going on outside the studio. Perhaps it's a spring thing. Regardless, I'm happy lining up canvas projects for the wildlife website.

Today I have attempted a chickadee because it continually amuses me with it's sparky gestures and handsome sharp markings.

Like most images, it will sit on an extra easel as I pass by it until I resolve things that pester me like proportion or composition issues.

WINTER SALES

There is something artistically healthy about having a winter sale every few years. For one thing you can take on stacks of trials and errors on different projects and discover some gem and other worthwhile images . Another benefit is that you can sell gallery work that is too dated for continued inventory in your gallery and sell it as affordable art. thirdly, I get to do things I don't take time to do when working on my wildlife website or at the easel with figurative paintings. This bear is simply a line drawing from leafing through references until I could internalize the behaviors and shapes of the wonderful black bear. Finally , I can use this sale project as a way to establish an "every few days" habit of doing this blog>:)

ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY

A trip to South Carolina near Charleston amazed me with it's wildlife and wetlands. Such an abundance of species in so many categories. We were fortunate to experience the dolphins strandfeeding , seeing oyster beds as part of miles and miles of river landscape. And Live Oak trees and moss throwing out there long huge arms as if welcoming anyone passing.

Entering the studio after returning from this vacation will take several days to ground myself as a result of such a wonderful and dramatic distraction .

I usually resolve that with putting large sheets of white craft paper on the easel and drawing out whatever comes to mind.

Another helpful technique is having Twyla Tharps' book ; "The Creavie Habit" as a reminder of how to remain on task.

TOO GOOD TO DRAW

This blog is too important to draw or talk about drawing and painting. We have officially achieved EGG! One of our 6 hens has dropped this jewel to announce a tasty and nutritious winter ahead. Nature rules! Living things are such a mysteriously magnificent piece of work . And reverence prevails.

PROPORTIONS CAN MAKE OR BREAK A PAINTING

A technique that really works for me after a studio day is to snap a photo of what I am leaving on the easel so I can worry about it later or even sometimes give it an approving nod.

Today isn't a "nod" day. I fear the head is out of proportion to the body. My plan is to sit with a glass of wine in the backyard this evening and wait for the late day feeding to check the goldfinch proportions.

CONSTRUCTIVE TIME OUT

There are all sorts of studio time outs one could take from the intensity of painting at the easel. My preference is to go with the simplicity of paper and pencil and find the lines on different subjects. Of course there is always that option of a magazine or nap on the old couch .

The advantage of these soft drawing times is that you can accumulate a number of images fitting for a studio sale .

PREPARING FOR A PHOTO SESSION

Making an appointment with your photographer for a phote shoot offers you a deadline to step pestering a canvas and submit it as finished as it can be. Or you cancel the appointment which you knew in your heart was pre mature and tuck the painting on a back easel for consideration at a later date as you ponder it.

The hawk image occupied the "tuck away" easel for about a month. This week end I was able to transition it into an image showing some of the qualities of a raptor that I was hoping to find.

This is a studio shot but I am ready to turn it over to my photographer Sidney Smith as finished. It also helps that she is outstanding at what she does.

A WONDERFUL DISTRACTION

The most friendly chicken in our flock of six is Rose. She enjoys my conversations when having afternoon coffee in their coop yard. She often sits on my knee while listening to me talk about a day of making contacts, supply errands, and studio work.

Yesterday she moved up to my shoulder and roosted there as we watched the others in silence.

I have read how chickens can be friendly and fun to watch to the point of distraction and now

here I am here writing about it and thinking gesture sketches, ink etchings and water color.