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Pas de Deux: Sandhill Cranes
Read more: Pas de Deux: Sandhill CranesA couple of weeks ago, I saw some Sandhill cranes -which I think are absolutely lovely birds – in a field in mid-Michigan. There were three juveniles, and two adults. Then, the adults stated to do the most amazing thing: they began to do a mating dance, right there. I was in awe of their…
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Busy Few Weeks: Galleries and Birds
Read more: Busy Few Weeks: Galleries and BirdsThe past few weeks, I have been busy in the field, taking notes and photos, and also visiting galleries in North Michigan. I just signed a contract to be represented by Blue Heron Gallery in Elk Rapids; and was also juried in by the Gaylord Area Council for the Arts (GACA) gallery in Gaylord, Michigan.…
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The Importance of Field Notes
Read more: The Importance of Field NotesI love to paint birds and other wildlife, and to depict them in their natural habitats. In order to create my paintings, I often take field notes and do “quick sketches” on site. I have not shared my sketches because they are quick, rough and my subjects for drawing often move very, very quickly. But…
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Egrets Flying: acrylic painting
Read more: Egrets Flying: acrylic paintingI decided to paint some white egrets flying over the marsh in northern Michigan, since these birds are beautiful and have begun showing up in a small town I was staying at in recent years. First, the painting, then the photos I took (I also used several others out of the dozens I took for…
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Fawn in the Grass
Read more: Fawn in the GrassLast week I was at my friend’s house in a remote area, and a baby fawn came and lay down in a grassy section near some trees. I snuck up on the little fellow, and took a picture; this week, I painted him in acrylics. This took time to do, but I was able to…
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Pumpkin Patch: acrylic painting
Read more: Pumpkin Patch: acrylic paintingI have a friend who loves pumpkins, collects all types of pumpkin figurines, plushies, etc. She commissioned me to create a pumpkin patch for her, and this is the result. If you look closely, you will see a tiny ladybug that I put on one of the leaves in front!
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Canadian Geese Family
Read more: Canadian Geese FamilyEach morning, there is a family of wild geese that visits the shoreline near where I am staying. I couldn’t resist painting these beautiful birds. Geese on Lake Huron, oils, 11 X 14″
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Egret in Wetlands: acrylic painting
Read more: Egret in Wetlands: acrylic paintingRecently, I decided that a smartphone was not adequate for taking bird photos, so I decided to buy a DSLR (Canon) with an extender lens (until I can afford a real telephoto). I then became a bird stalker. Specifically, I began stalking one of the egrets who stays around a nearby marsh. Day by day,…
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In the Canopy: semi-abstract
Read more: In the Canopy: semi-abstractI have been experimenting with going a bit looser and more abstract in some of my paintings. The other day, I saw the sun filtering through the trees in the woods, and decided to try to paint how the light affected me. This is one of my first attempts at abstracting somewhat what I see.…
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White Daffodils
Read more: White DaffodilsThe daffodils have been in bloom for several weeks here in north Michigan. This is a painting I just completed, done in acrylics. I love these harbingers of spring, which I painted in my usual palette.
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Red Wing Blackbird: acrylic painting
Read more: Red Wing Blackbird: acrylic paintingOne of the signs of spring in Michigan is the red-winged blackbirds calling as they nest in the wet areas. This inspired my painting of one in acrylics. I combined a photo I took a few days ago of some wetlands nearby, with the blackbird to show him in his native habitat. The palette was…
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Prophetic art: Wind in my Sails
Read more: Prophetic art: Wind in my SailsYesterday, I did the weekly prophetic art time with my friend. I saw an image of a sailboat, so I painted this one from imagination; I put it on a lake with the water sparkling because I love it when the sun here does that. The painting is in acrylics. “Wind in My Sails”, acrylic…