Blue Jay
While painting this, I was watching this:
And I think that’s when they started winning!
Apr 11
Obviously, I paint birds because I like them. I love to be able to identify the birds that I see, but other than how they look and sound, I don’t really know much. With each bird I paint, I have been reading a little about each one. I am really enjoying that part of the process. Here’s some bird trivia: House Sparrows always live near humans – often surviving on seeds, livestock feed and human food. You probably see them in your backyard all the time, but you won’t find them in the forest.
I have lots of bird prints up on Etsy. Take a look!
The first time I ever saw a Steller’s Jay was during a visit to BC, before moving here. There was a group of them in a picnic area where we stopped. I was fascinated by their beautiful colour, but nervous about their loud squawking and aggressive swooping. Obviously they were used to people sharing snacks with them. The ones I see around the city these day are much more polite.
Painting a duck makes you realize how shiny they are. Tricky to capture.
Feb 15
I’m already seeing lots of these guys and it’s not even spring yet!
Here are my birds (and my tree) on display at Stock Home Design at 3060 West Broadway, Vancouver.
Chickadees are one of the cutest, most cheerful birds around. And they always seem to be so curious and playful. Their little round bodies and happy songs are hard to resist. (Which is why I’ve painted another one, I guess).
I don’t see finches very often, so when I do, I feel lucky. As I sit here looking out at the winter rain pouring down, it is nice to think of a warm spring day when I might get to see one again.
A tiny painting can sometimes be a great study for something larger. I painted the 3″ painting with my usual series of tiny paintings for Christmas, then the larger one.
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