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Goldfinch in late winter
Read more: Goldfinch in late winterI think that goldfinches are lovely birds. This past winter, I was house-sitting for a friend (she has three adorable dogs that require special care since they are getting older) and got an unexpected bonus: I saw this little fellow perched on a rail right outside the window. My friend is an avid birdwatcher, too,…
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On Giving Back
Read more: On Giving BackI believe that each of us has things that inspire us, concern us, and motivate us. These are the things that we are passionate about, the things that cause us to take time, effort and even donate money towards.I have several things that qualify for the above. In this post, I want to share about…
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A Year of Birds: July
Read more: A Year of Birds: JulyJuly 2022 The weather is getting warmer now each day, bringing the whine of mosquitoes and the droning buzz of deer flies. The only value I see in these pests that bite whenever I venture outdoors is that they do feed the birds and their fledglings. At a nearby park on the river, I saw…
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Portrait of a Hawk (acrylic)
Read more: Portrait of a Hawk (acrylic)I think that hawks are beautiful, and this is one that I often see hanging out off a dirt road going to the beach. I wanted to capture the beautiful eyes in this portrait.
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Portrait of a Bird Lover (acrylic)
Read more: Portrait of a Bird Lover (acrylic)A few weeks ago, I saw this man walking around with two birds perched on his arm and shoulder. I knew I had to paint him, asked permission to take his photo, and he agreed. Tom now has a portrait that shows his love for his birds, and gave me permission to post this on…
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Shiny Cormorant: Acrylic Painting
Read more: Shiny Cormorant: Acrylic PaintingI had fun painting this cormorant; after I created his body using a mix of ultramarine and umber to create a rich black, I used gold paint mixed with sienna and blue to create the shiny feathers on his back. I also used some opalescent paint in the water for a bit of extra shine.…
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Family Outing: Acrylic Geese Painting
Read more: Family Outing: Acrylic Geese PaintingThis summer, I am exploring adding more color to my paintings. While the photo doesn’t do it justice, this one has a lot of cerulean and warm washes of sienna and some greens, and even alizarin – all colors that you can see reflected in the ever-changing waters. It was fun to paint what is…
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Egret Flying Over Lake Huron: Acrylic
Read more: Egret Flying Over Lake Huron: AcrylicI am playing a bit more with color this summer, because Lake Huron is beautiful, and has constantly changing colors. This is based on a recent sunset, and I added alizarin and Hansa yellow to my usual palette, as well as a touch of orange, to capture the sunset highlight. Egrets are beautiful birds, and…
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A Year of Birds: June 2022 (part 2)
Read more: A Year of Birds: June 2022 (part 2)The egrets can be seen in the marshes, but are quite shy, and will fly off as soon as they see me. I will keep trying, though. I also saw a sparrow on a log enjoying the sun. I love their markings and songs, which are so cheerful. As I was driving to the store…
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Kildeer on the Beach: oil painting
Read more: Kildeer on the Beach: oil paintingKildeer are beautiful little birds, and I love watching them on the shores of Lake Huron. In this painting, I wanted to re-create a sunny day with the kildeer in typical postures. I used my usual earth-toned palette, but added cerulean and a touch of cadmium yellow to it.
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Sandhill Cranes: Acrylic Painting
Read more: Sandhill Cranes: Acrylic PaintingI love sandhill cranes, and am always awed when I see them gather in the grassy marshes. This painting reflects how these beautiful birds make me feel. I used my normal palette of earth tones.
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A Year of Birds 2022: April
Read more: A Year of Birds 2022: AprilApril is starting out very cold, after the warm weekend at the end of March. The chickadees and cardinals still visit the feeder, but once the snow melts from the ground I will stop. I don’t want any bears visiting! On the weekend, I go out to Misery Bay, and the canals nearby. I saw…