This pencil drawing of a raven captures the bird’s commanding presence and intelligent gaze. The raven’s watchful eye, filled with a quiet wisdom, seems to follow the viewer, hinting at our mutual curiosity.
This detailed pencil drawing of a sparrow captures the quiet beauty of a creature many overlook in their daily lives. Every feather reflects my appreciation for the bird’s humble presence. The sparrow serves to remind us of the significance of the everyday, and to cherish the familiar ,small wonders that surround us.
Take a walk just after the sun comes up and listen carefully. If you are lucky you will hear the chattering of a large congregation of birds. You have discovered a roost where birds gather for safety at night. You might not be able to see them in the dense foliage of an evergreen but you will surely hear them discussing their plans for the day.
Blue Jays can recognize human faces. It is said humans can recognize individual Blue Jays by the unique shapes and size of their black "necklace." So far I haven't had any luck with that. I can sometimes tell certain individuals by their behavior.
I found this spectacular scene at the entrance to a forest preserve. I thought it would make a great painting because of the beautiful colors. Sometimes the most mundane scenes in unexpected places can surprise you. Always be on the lookout for beauty.
In the forest where I regularly walk seeing deer is as common as seeing squirrels. They are habituated to people and both go about their business without disturbing the other. In this scene the striking light of the low angle sun caught my eye as this fellow traveler happened by.
Ryerson Barn located in Illinois stands in the early morning light. Although it seems I only paint realistic birds and animals, I also enjoy trying my hand at more impressionist landscapes. When I visit this favorite place, I like to roll down the window regardless of the season to listen to the quiet, or the sounds of nature as I travel the tree lined path.
A crow and his family followed the the blue jays to my yard trying to discover where they were getting all the free peanuts. My luck didn't last as they were just passing through and have not returned since.
I visit a forest near my home on a weekly basis to see the changes the seasons bring. Various birds make their home here, and migrators pass through. It's always exciting to see rare birds, but the ubiquitous sparrow can always be counted on to make an appearance.
All the attention seems to go to the male cardinal because of their bright red color. The female cardinals are just as pretty with subtle shades of browns and toned down reds. This little lady was waiting her turn at the sunflower feeder on a snowy morning.
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I set up a little "bird photography studio" in my backyard, and position interesting branches in front of colorful backgrounds. Once the birds have determined these are safe to land on they will pose for reference photos. This is the first step in my painting process.
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Sometimes before gathering the peanuts I put out for them, they land on my roof and peer into my kitchen window. I guess they are curious, or checking to see who is in there. I can't figure out why they do it but it shows a level of intelligence.
