By mid-April, the migratory birds are back, and it is a delight to both see them soaring in the air and hear their calls in the trees along the beach. The other day as some friends and I were hiking, we came upon an amazing sight: a group of 7 cedar waxwings was perched onContinue reading “A Year of Birds: April”
Tag Archives: birds
A Year of Birds: February
Since I am new to living in north Michigan near Lake Huron, I was surprised to discover that the bald eagle not only stays all winter long, but juveniles can often be seen hanging out near Misery Bay and other frozen marshes next to the now frozen lakeshore. They will at times hunt together alongContinue reading “A Year of Birds: February”
Flickers on the Ground (acrylic)
I think flickers are beautiful birds. A couple of months ago, I saw some in the side yard, busily eating ants (these woodpeckers like ants from any source, including an anthill!) This was painted in acrylic with a limited palette: titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, burnt umber, yellow ochre and sap green.
A Year of Birds: January
While 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 severalContinue reading “A Year of Birds: January”
Geese taking off in late afternoon: acrylic painting
I love the birds around Lake Huron, and last week I saw this beautiful sight that I decided to paint: Canadian Geese beginning to fly just before sunset. I used the following colors for this painting: ultramarine blue, cerulean blue; cadmium red medium; titanium white; burnt umber and Lamp Black.
Egrets Flying: acrylic painting
I 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 forContinue reading “Egrets Flying: acrylic painting”
Birds of Michigan Series: Winter Partners
I love to paint birds, and winter scenes, so this painting combines these two. One is a sparrow, the other a chickadee. What I love about the sparrow is the fact that his posture reminds me of a “grumpy old man” sitting there on the bush. These guys came to the feeders last winter, andContinue reading “Birds of Michigan Series: Winter Partners”
Michigan Bird Series: Female Cardinal
Last spring my roomate took a picture of a female cardinal in the snow (yes, there was snow until April here; I thought I had moved to the land where winter never ends by the end of my first Michigan winter!) As I mentioned before, I love cardinals, so I decided to paint here. IContinue reading “Michigan Bird Series: Female Cardinal”
Birds of Michigan series: Titmouse
Recently, I’ve been painting birds. I did a couple for one of the bathrooms in the house I live in, to complement a series of birdhouses that a roommate put up. They look nice together, along with the shower curtain that has…birds. I live where the birds constantly come and visit, due to the feedersContinue reading “Birds of Michigan series: Titmouse”