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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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A Year of Birds: June 2022 part 1
Read more: A Year of Birds: June 2022 part 1The days are finally getting warmer, and there was a heat wave on the first of June: the temperature went above 80 degrees (F)- a miracle! And with the warm weather has come mosquitoes, the bane of Michigan bird watchers. Whenever I go into the marshes, clouds of them appear, and they seem to be…
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A Year of Birds: May 2022
Read more: A Year of Birds: May 2022A Year of Birds The first week of May, my friends and I drive back north from North Carolina. There are plenty of birds to see, but we are in a hurry to make the long trip. Finally, we are back home, and to reward ourselves, my friends and I indulge in a quick trip…
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A Year of Birds: March 2022
Read more: A Year of Birds: March 2022March is certainly coming in “like a lion” here in North Michigan with snowstorms, cold wind, and bitter weather. When temperatures sitting near zero still, it feels as if my hands, feet, nose and even eyes hurt if I am out too long. My visits with the birds when I feed them are short on…
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Great Egret Fishing: Acrylic Painting
Read more: Great Egret Fishing: Acrylic PaintingI love egrets, and chose to paint this one hunting and catching a frog in the marsh. This was done in acrylic with my normal limited palette.
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“Little Rascal” acrylic painting of a Raccoon
Read more: “Little Rascal” acrylic painting of a RaccoonA few weeks ago, a visitor showed up near the bird feeder. I got some nice photos of him, and decided to paint him in acrylic. I went with a very limited palette so it is similar to a value study: ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, burnt sienna. The details took time, but it…
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A Year of Birds: November
Read more: A Year of Birds: NovemberThe days are getting shorter and much colder. Today, on the third, it snowed! I have started feeding the birds again, on the ground (I don’t dare fill the feeder, or the bears will get it; they have not gone into hibernation yet). The juncos were the first to find the seed I put out,…
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A Year of Birds: October
Read more: A Year of Birds: OctoberNow the days are getting cooler at night, and shorter. In the early morning, fog can be seen over Lake Huron in a thick white blanket that rolls towards the shore. I know that the shorter days and tree color changes herald the fall migration of the birds to warmer climates. I can still see…
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A Year of (Michigan) Birds: July
Read more: A Year of (Michigan) Birds: JulyThe gulls have taken over the point to the north of the bay. They can be seen sunning, dozens of them perched on the rocks and walking around. When I go kayaking by the point, I can see the mergansers and their babies. They have 19! The babies are so cute, and follow in the…
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Holiday Ornament time again….
Read more: Holiday Ornament time again….It’s that time of year again, when I start painting ornaments to distribute at galleries and stores. It’s fun, and while I don’t make a ton of money from this, it’s great PR – I put one of my cards with each one. I paint the ornaments based on bird paintings I have done, that…
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Migrating Sanderling: acrylic painting
Read more: Migrating Sanderling: acrylic paintingA couple of weeks ago, when walking on the beach, I came across a group of sanderlings migrating south. One was exceptionally cute, and this painting is the result. As usual, I painted this with a limited palette of Tit. white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt ochre, burnt sienna and a touch of payne’s gray.…
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A Year of Birds: January
Read more: A Year of Birds: JanuaryWhile I often share my paintings here, I have rarely shared my personal reference photos. I will be posting some of my favorite bird photos over the next few months, organized month-by-month, as well as some thoughts on each month. First is January. When it is January in north Michigan, a blanket of snow several…