A Year of Birds: February 2023

The warm spell at the January didn’t last. It is, after all, winter in northeast Michigan. The temperatures dropped to a chilly -5 degrees F in the early morning, and I am feeding the birds twice a day now (and the deer, too! They come by regularly for snacks). The ground has turned from aContinue reading “A Year of Birds: February 2023”

Mallard in the Marsh: Acrylic painting

I have been experimenting with doing paintings with a very limited palette (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, burnt umber and titanium white). This is a mallard in the marsh near misery bay, during the fall when the grasses turn beautiful colors.

Morning Visitor: acrylic painting

I have been experimenting with painting lights and darks, using a limited palette of yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber and titanium white. This little sparrow was sitting on a rock in my yard recently, and I wanted to capture the moment. Moments like this remind me of the beauty of God’s creation.

A Year of Birds: January 2023

January has come in cold for a few days after a warm spell (if you consider 35 degrees F warm, that is!). But it has snowed, the temperatures have dropped, and today I saw a mute swan swimming on the bay near the snow-covered beach. It glided silently along, beautiful. A couple of days later,Continue reading “A Year of Birds: January 2023”

Chickadee on Wild Roses: acrylic painting

“Chickadee on Wild Rose Arbor” acrylic 11 X 14 inches. I have a friend who has a beautiful arbor with wild roses that grow on it. A few months ago, I painted this picture, with a chickadee sitting as they often do on it. It is a nice reminder of the late summer time!

Favorite Photos of 2022: Part 2

Here are some of my favorite photos from 2022 that I took. June: Ruffed Grouse July: Mute Swan July: Two Kingfishers July: Sandhill Crane mother and baby August: Hawk August: Tern with fish September: Blue Heron September: Sandhill Cranes October: Bald Eagles October: Yellow Legs migrating November: Young Eagle flying November: Golden eye ducks migratingContinue reading “Favorite Photos of 2022: Part 2”

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

A Year of Birds: December 2022

December has come in cold, but not bitter as it often does here in northeast Michigan. The days are often cloudy and gray, unless the sun decides to peek through. Some mornings, the banks of clouds on the horizon look like a small mountain range in the distance, and it is beautiful. While driving backContinue reading “A Year of Birds: December 2022”

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”

Heron in the Marsh: acrylic painting

A few months ago, I found a heron in a marsh off of Misery Bay, and wanted to paint him. I used sgraffito technique for the grass, and wanted to experiment with getting a sense of light on the water. This was painted using my typical palette of ultramarine, yellow ochre, yellow hansa, burnt umber,Continue reading “Heron in the Marsh: acrylic painting”

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”