Favorite Photos 2022 Part 1

This year, I took many photos, and want to share my favorites during this review of the year. January: rough legged hawk February: snowy owl March: Great Blue Heron April: Golden Eye May: Wood Ducks May: Phoebe May: Great Egret

Tern Fishing on Lake Huron

I love it when the wind raises on Lake Huron, and the waves come crashing in. This painting is of a tern fishing on a windy day in a bay off of the lake. I spent nearly an hour a couple of months ago watching him swoop into the water and fly back out, fightingContinue reading “Tern Fishing on Lake Huron”

Art commission: Summer Beach, Lake Huron

Recently, I was commissioned to paint the shores of Lake Huron to be a Christmas gift for someone who wanted this reminder of fun times with a friend this summer. This is late summer, with the goldenrod blooming (no birds, either!) This painting was done in acrylic, and I enjoyed painting it with my usualContinue reading “Art commission: Summer Beach, Lake Huron”

A Year of Birds: November 2022

Part 2 One morning during the second week of November, I got up before dawn, and watched while the sun rose. It was beautiful, and there were the ducks, enjoying the early morning light, looking like black silhouettes against the peach-colored water. I feel blessed to see sights like this, when nature proclaims its beautyContinue reading “A Year of Birds: November 2022”

A Year of Birds 2022: November

Part 1 During my hike today at the beginning of the month, the bay is silent compared to the almost constant background chatter of small tweets, whistles and the high “kews” of the yellow legs that are heard during the summer. When I went into town, I saw one of the few birds that hasContinue reading “A Year of Birds 2022: November”

A Year of Birds

                                        October 2022 The weather is swinging between very cold at night and warmer during the day as October starts. Today, I saw a blue heron that is still here in spite of the cooling days. This heron is one of those staying around When I went out to dinner in Presque Isle, I didContinue reading “A Year of Birds”

A Year of Birds: August 2022

This has been a very busy month, but I am trying to find time to go birding. The sandhill pair is still hanging out near Misery Bay in the marshes, but I haven’t seen the baby. I hope it is okay, I will check on them to see. While hiking, I saw a young merganserContinue reading “A Year of Birds: August 2022”

A Year of Birds: July

July 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 sawContinue reading “A Year of Birds: July”

Family Outing: Acrylic Geese Painting

This 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 isContinue reading “Family Outing: Acrylic Geese Painting”

A Year of Birds: June 2022 part 1

The 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 beContinue reading “A Year of Birds: June 2022 part 1”

Kildeer on the Beach: oil painting

Kildeer 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.