Sparrow

I don't think I'll ever be able to get all the way away from painting birds, and I don't think I want to.  Like most areas of the country, I've got plenty of sparrows flying around my house.  I thought it might be nice to paint one.  I think I did one years ago, but they are nice birds and I always enjoy watching them at the feeder and flitting about too and fro.

This isn't any particular sparrow, but one of many that could be around my house.  He's just sitting there on a little branch looking for his friends to play with.

He was great fun to paint.  If you want to see a video of how I did it, check out the video below.

European Robin

A robin in winter.  I will admit that this guy doesn't display all the personality of some of my other birds, but he is cute anyway.  I was painting from a picture that had been taken in winter.  I can tell from the snow on the little stick the bird is on, but I couldn't make out what was in the background.  So I tried to fill it with cool colors.  I wanted to leave them a little light so as to not take away from the bird, but just give an indication of temperature.  Now that you know its cold in the picture, I bet you can really see it.

I made a video to go along with this so you can see how I did it.  Interested parties can follow this link.

I hope you enjoy this little bird and I hope you enjoy the video.   You keep looking and watching, and Ill keep painting and posting.

Struggling

Last night I was really struggling.  I wanted to paint.  I really did.  I painted about 6 paintings, but no matter what I did, the picture that ended up on the paper in no way resembled what was in my head.  I just couldn't get things to work out.  These two are the best I could muster.

I'm always flummoxed when something like that happens.  Do I keep painting, and power through in hopes that at some point though out the night my my paintings will get better?  Or do I pack it in for the night, and try again the next day?

I guess I chose to power through and see what I could muster up.  I don't think its anywhere near my best stuff.    

Expect to see a better product nest time you check back.

No Fat Chicks

I've been told that all the birds I paint seem to be fat.  I just thought they were all big boned.  Today, I give you two birds that might have an actual chance of flight.  Two Western Scrub Jays.  They are fun to paint  with their blue and browns,  This one has found a perch on a dead branch and is looking back over his shoulder.





This picture is approximately 5x7.
For Sale - $10 - free shipping

This second bird did look a bit more haggard in the original, but I don't think I did him any favors in this picture.  Again he  is looking over his shoulder.  I'm told that his head doesn't look like it fits on his body properly.  I didn't really think about it when I drew it.  Its how the picture was.

Both of these birds were fun to paint, and I will be doing more birds.  I've found a website full of great pictures of just about all species of North American birds, so expect to see more in the future.


This picture is approximately 4x6.
For Sale -$8 - free shipping.

Flipping you the Bird

SOLD

Just to take a little break from doors and windows, I've decided to paint a little hummingbird.  He's cute, Don't you think?  I think his feathers got a little ruffled.

I was toying with painting a background on this one, but din't time to do it this lunch hour.  Enjoy.