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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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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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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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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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Yellow Legs in the Evening: Acrylic Painting
Read more: Yellow Legs in the Evening: Acrylic PaintingI saw this wonderful little bird in the marsh a few weeks ago. They stop here on their way north to Canada, and I always enjoy watching them feed in the evenings. This painting was done with acrylic, using my usual palette. I wanted to show the fiery glow on the still brown marsh plants…
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A Year of Birds: January 2022
Read more: A Year of Birds: January 2022I will be posting photos taken throughout the year in this online journal. This is a bitter, very cold winter even for northern Michigan. I am feeding the Chickadees and Jays daily, and they seem grateful. The chickadees have become quite tame, and will let me near. I am hoping to teach them to feed…
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First Signs of Spring: Acrylic Painting
Read more: First Signs of Spring: Acrylic PaintingLast weekend, I went birding with a good friend. It was a warm day for North Michigan (as in, the first day above 10 degrees F in weeks). I told her, “I doubt we’ll see any egrets or herons yet, it’s too cold.” Well, in one of the marshes that has just started thawing, I…
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Nuthatch in the Tree: Acrylic painting
Read more: Nuthatch in the Tree: Acrylic paintingLast week, I heard the most amazing laughter coming from the trees. I searched, and found the source: a little nuthatch, chuckling away. This painting was done to highlight how agile these birds are. This was painted using my typical palette of ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, burnt sienna and yellow ochre.
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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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Egret in the Marsh: Acrylic painting
Read more: Egret in the Marsh: Acrylic paintingI love egrets, and created this painting of one based on observations done this past fall. This was done with my typical palette: ultramarine, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, titanium white, burnt umber. I also added a bit of cerulean.