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.
Tag Archives: wildlife
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.
American Goldfinch: Colored Pencil
I have been observing finches and taking photos of them the past few weeks. I love finches because they add a spot of bright sunshine yellow to the edge of the woods or any other spot they visit.
Tufted Titmouse: acrylic painting
The titmouse is one of my favorite birds; I love the little tuft on top of their heads. This is a recently acrylic that I just completed.
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”
Cheetah with more definition
Here is the cheetah with a bit more definition to him. I added in more hair detail and spots, defined his nose more and darkened some of the darks. This was a fun project to work on!
How to Paint a Cheetah in Acrylic
Last fall, I went to the zoo, and by great luck, got a nice head shot of a cheetah who was resting near where I was standing. I love big cats, and decided to paint one in this art demo where I will share how it is done. First, I primed the canvas (it wasContinue reading “How to Paint a Cheetah in Acrylic”
Chickadees on a Winter Day
During the winter months in north Michigan, some of the most frequent birds visiting feeders will be chickadees. They stay on through the snow and sub-zero temperatures, and to me they are a symbol of hardiness and resilience. I used a limited palette for this painting: ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, burnt sienna andContinue reading “Chickadees on a Winter Day”
Tundra Swans on Lake Huron in Michigan: oil painting
One of the most beautiful sights along the shores of Lake Huron in the winter are the swans. These beautiful birds float in small groups, and in the winter, look almost like small “ice chunks” when they dive their heads under water. I used a limited palette (burnt umber, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white,Continue reading “Tundra Swans on Lake Huron in Michigan: oil painting”
Wood Thrush
Wood thrushes are beautiful birds that like to nest in high trees (therefore, near woodlands). This painting is based on one I saw a few weeks ago at a local aviary. I painted this in oils, using a limited palette (ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, burnt umber, cad yellow, titanium white, sap green0