Tag Archives: wildlife

A Year of Birds: March

It is March, and the weather is finally starting to warm up a bit – it even goes into the mid-40’s on a sunny day! The snow is starting to melt, and the landscape is slowly turning from white to brown. Locals are used to the “spring slush” in which back roads turn into muddy,Continue reading “A Year of Birds: March”

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.

Sandhill Cranes: Oil Painting

A few weeks ago, I saw some sandhill cranes feeding in the evening light at Misery Bay. I took a bunch of photos, and decided to take a more impressionistic approach to these beautiful birds. I used a limited palette for this oil painting: tit. white; ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, Burnt Umber, burnt sienna, yellowContinue reading “Sandhill Cranes: Oil Painting”

Mute Swans on the River

I love the beauty of swans, and when I saw these two on a nearby river, I couldn’t resist painting them. I hope you enjoy their elegant grace as much as I do! As usual, my palette was limited: titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue and cerulean blue. The swans can be seenContinue reading “Mute Swans on the River”

Kildeer on Lake Huron Beach

I enjoy painting Kildeer; they are one of my favorite shore birds. This one hangs out on a small rocky point on Lake Huron in North Michigan. I went with a limited palette for this one: burnt umber, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre and titanium white.

Egret in the Marsh

I have spent a lot of time walking near, around and in the marshes of North Michigan. This is the habitat where black flies and mosquitoes like to live – but it is all worth it to catch sight of an egret like this one! This painting is based on one that hangs out inContinue reading “Egret in the Marsh”

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.

Nuthatch in Early Spring: acrylic painting

I enjoy watching nuthatches creeping upside down and sideways around trees, and decided to paint this one that I saw in the early Michigan spring a few weeks ago just after it had snowed. I used a very limited palette for this painting: ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, burnt sienna and yellow ochre.

Bunnykins in the Snow: Colored pencil

At my friend’s house in North Michigan, there is a bunny that shows up early in the morning, and in the early evening, to nibble on seeds that the birds drop from their feeders. We affectionately began calling this regular visitor, and one day I decided to draw him using colored pencils, since I wantContinue reading “Bunnykins in the Snow: Colored pencil”