Showing posts with label Downy Woodpecker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Downy Woodpecker. Show all posts

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Hello Again!

Downy & Cardinal on my easel...

Yesterday was a day to replenish the spirit - so I listened to smooth jazz on my iPod (Acoustic Alchemy. Rippingtons, not that they are that "smooth!," Peter White, David Benoit, Russ Freeman, Bob James, Boney James, Chuck Mangione, Dave Koz, Euge Groove, Fourplay!!!, George Winston, Gerald Albright, Jazz Masters, Paul Hardcastle, Rick Braun, etc...) while I lost myself in art.

All the arts are wonderful ways to renew the mind/heart/soul/spirit! I had a great day and can show you what I worked on.


I had been going to leave the whites merge with the background, but decided at this point, that a pale background just around the white areas of the woodpecker would enhance the painting - especially from a distance.


Then it was time to refine the areas around the eye, accent a few places, tone down the pale background, and complete the work.

Downy Woodpecker - (c) Pat Dolan - Acrylic painting 12" x 12"


Reds are hard to paint - they are just so bright!

Adding the beak, which is a slightly different color from the body, of course.

I like the white background on this one - crisp and clean. These paintings are designed to harmonize in any decor, from country to modern and beyond.

Then it was time for the finishing details - the eyes, the beak high-lights, a deepening of color here and there. And a signature.
Male Cardinal - (c) Pat Dolan - Acrylic - 12" x 12"

So today, it's another day for music and art. I'm loving my studio time. I think I'll do a cow next! Nothing like adjusting to change!!!

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Birds, Birds, BIRDS!

Downy Woodpecker (male)

I like to watch the birds, summer/winter/spring & fall. Winter bird watching is definitely one of my favorite winter pastimes. I keep a point-and-shoot camera in my pocket all the time with the fond hopes of catching a great photo-op. With the twins, photo ops happen all the time. With birds, photo ops are rare & treasured.

Nuthatch

White-throated Sparrow

Here are a few of my recent photo ops of winter birds that make me happy to be alive, aware, and carrying my camera. These are taken from our kitchen windows.

Male Cardinal

Carolina Wren

Male Cardinal

Carolina Wren

Chickadee

Mourning Dove

Dark-eyed Junco

The one below is a recent acrylic painting of a group of Goldfinch on a wire. It measures 40" square and hangs above my bed.

I'm planning an entire series of bird portraits paintings in acrylics on 12" x 12" canvas as my 2014 art project of the year. Watch for more in the coming weeks/months.