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>:)