Preparing panels for oil painting gave me some time to leave the studio while they dried. The local park was offering a chance to see some large raptors (birds not dinosaurs!) up close. I came home with a renewed appreciation for their attributes and their design.
Owls are associated with wisdom so even this barred owl appears profound when he calls out, “Who cooks for you?” in the still of the night. Hardly equal to the Bard Shakespeare but being this adorable you can also call out “Too cute to care!”
Just had to spend a couple of hours capturing the memory. (Charcoal pencil on sketch paper)
The Bard is Barred
Last Days of Summer
Life Gull
Soaking up rays.
Taking a break from the studio to enjoy this beautiful weather and just be outdoors. Went to the beach and, between swims, managed to capture one of the many people who flocked to the water for this gorgeous gift of a day. Included is one non-human model who also migrated here with ‘friends’. What do they say about ‘birds of a feather’?
Luckily both these ‘birds’ enjoyed just sitting and catching some rays long enough for me to catch quick sketches from my bird blind under the sun umbrella.
Purple is a nice color to use as under drawing. It maps out the lights and darks so colour can be added on top later or left as is. Either way, I can summon all the sensations of this rare and beautiful sunny day just by looking back through the sketchbook. Love it!
Kingfisher Study
Another study.I watched a pair of these birds almost every day this past summer.They flew between two trees above the Saugeen River and announced their arrival twice a day with a loud, rattling call. Always successful at fishing, they seemed very businesslike, more like organized shoppers than hunters. I took pictures but never caught the detail necessary–needing a better lens than what I have I suppose. So, bird books out and perusing terrific birding sites has me trying to understand the feather patterns, colours and just plain attitude of these feisty little dudes. Seems only fitting to dust off the watercolour media for these water ‘kings’.
(watermedia on toned paper)
Christmas ‘souvenirs’
This little piece appeared on a Christmas card I created a few seasons ago. 2016 has been a busy year with big changes and this year finds me unpacking and setting up my new studio and waiting for working lights to be put in. That is happening today. Yesss!!!
So here is a souvenir of Christmas past. It also reminds me of my former home. The congregation of small birds, depicted here in ink and wash, used to meet and eat at the bird feeder, just outside the patio doors.
This post goes up with a message for all to have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season– with food and friends of course!