Showing posts with label Song birds; birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Song birds; birds. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 04, 2021

2021 Update on My Artwork

Recent Watercolor Paintings
Just delivered to Art a la Carte in Bellefonte, PA

As it's been a long time since I've posted anything about my art, it's about time I remedy that situation. Watercolor has been my primary media for much of the past few years. It's always been my "favorite" medium to work with - I love that it can be either or both opaque and transparent, depending upon the paints used (some are made to be opaque, others are staining colors, and the rest are transparent colors that allow the paper to shine beneath the colors) and depending upon how an artist uses the paints. The majority of my work is done with transparent paints (Daniel Smith or Winsor Newton brands), but I'm now experimenting with the opaque colors to see just how I can incorporate them into my expressions of nature on paper.

Here is a recent example of a transparent watercolor painting. While the black appears to be black, it is actually a transparent paint named "Neutral Tint." The more water that is added to this paint, the paler the shade of blue gray. I painted quite heavily on the wings and parts of the head, but added more water the the gray areas which allows the paper to show through the paint.


Tufted Titmouse transparent watercolor painting

Here's another recent transparent wc - the background is quite transparent, made more-so by the addition of two different salts into the wet paint, creating the starlike effect as the salt absorbs both the water and the paint.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird (SOLD)

Once again, the red paint on the throat is painted with a thicker layer of different red paints. All red wc paints are staining, however. They can be transparent, but they canNOT be lifted off the paper, as fully transparent paints usually can.

And here is a painting with a touch or two of opaque paint - White watercolor paint. A dot for the white of the cardinal's eye, and a splash of white on the all red bird.

Cardinal watercolor painting with transparent, staining and opaque paints. SOLD

So while I've now found two different locations to sell my small framed watercolors, I'm also still playing around with fabric, sewing, collaging, and other fun projects. Neither of the two below are finished - just in process!


Childhood Memories

The Raven once again...
(watercolor on fabric, surrounded by patchwork)

But the little birds are selling quickly, so it's time to go back to work on more of them. No more are ready to replace any that sell in the near future. It behoves me to get back to work.

Hope you enjoyed the little explanations above. Here are some of the recently sold pieces and some that just left the studio today for two different stores in Bellefonte, PA.


Most SOLD

SOLD


Just delivered to the Twiga Gift Store at the Bellefonte Art Museum









Sunday, April 06, 2008

Spring Birds

Here are a few of the visitors this past week to our bird feeder. The blackbirds are back, signaling that Spring is really here, no matter what else is going on! The Red-winged blackbirds, the cowbirds (black with a brown head), and the two below.

COMMON GRACKLE (purple):
Habitat - lawns, parks, open woodland. 12"
Bright yellow eyes - varying colors from blue to purple to light green to bronze, depending upon the light.






RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE:
Habitat - thickets and brushy woodland edges. 7-9 1/2"
Their eyes are the same rusty red color as their sides. Amazing to see!





I continue to feed the birds so that I can enjoy them in between sorting, packing, making phone calls to arrange a myriad of changes in our lives. I may not see some of them in our future home - we'll be right in town,not at the edge of a wood and swamp land.

Oh, and the Peepers are peeping from afternoon 'til dawn - seeking partners so as to continue their propagation.

Yes, spring is in the air. And two of our three grandchildren are falling in love...