Mad Sparrow

 Acrylic on Board    5x7     SOLD

This guy seems a little mad to me. I don't know why, the sun is shining on him and he has a belly full of seeds. Maybe birds get in a mood just like people.

Chamomile Sparrow

 Acrylic on Board   5x7   SOLD

In the land between seasons of Fall and Summer an English sparrow picks through the fallen leaves, and the last remaining flowers of a chamomile plant. Both hoping to make it through the harsh Winter ahead, the plant drops it's seeds for rebirth, and the sparrow hunts for seeds to survive to build it's nest in the Spring. 

Deck Sparrow

 Acrylic on Board   5x7      SOLD

Bird photography has been a hobby of mine for over 20 years. Capturing just the right light, and the sharpest image is the ultimate goal, but the real benefit is the time spent just watching nature. My most accessible subjects are the little sparrows that visit my garden. Even though they are not the flashiest of birds, or the most exotic, if you really look at them they are quite beautiful. I have learned much about their daily patterns, as well as the changing light of the seasons. I think paintings work out best when you are most familiar with the subject.

Big Red

 Acrylic on Board    5x7     SOLD

You may think Big Red got his name because of his coloring. Wrong. It was because when he was young and inexperienced he stepped on a piece of Big Red gum on the ground. It took two weeks for it to work it's way off, and he almost got stuck to a tree branch. He never quite lived down that episode, and would like to kindly ask you not to spit your gum out on the sidewalk.

Cat Face 2

 Acrylic on Canvas Board   5x7

Charlene is a beauty queen from a movie scene. But she worries too much. Will there be enough fish in the ocean for her supper? Will mice try to get in from the garage? She is scared of mice. Will her paws get dirty if she sits on the floor? Will the fireplace burn out in the middle of the night waking her from the cold? Will the windows fog up so she can't watch the birds in the garden? So many tragedies to contemplate, best to find her catnip toy.

Cat Face 1

 Acrylic on Canvas Board    5x7

Rusty is not a house cat...he is royalty. He would like you to notice the crown marking on his forehead. He would prefer you call him King, or King R. Worship him, you may only pet him on alternate Tuesdays. Thank you that is all.

Field of Fog

 Acrylic on Canvas Board   5x7

I like to return to the same locations at different times of year and weather conditions. I either paint from life or photograph the scene for reference. Although this was not painted from one of my favorite spots, it reminds me of the fog in the early mornings when I would drive into work. Often I would stop just to absorb the scene and try to remember it for when I would have the time to paint.

Crow on a Post

 Acrylic on Canvas Board   5x7

I have two crows that follow me on my dog walk because they know I have peanuts in my pocket. I'm sure it's a mated pair. As soon as I cross the street to the park I hear the one who waits for me call to the other who is much bolder. This bolder crow will flap quite near to let me know they are available for feeding. I think they probably call me "the nut girl" since I never told them my name. LOL

Candy Apple Red

 Acrylic on Board    5x7     SOLD

You know it must be getting dark on a Spring night when you hear this bird calling in your yard. Coming around at dusk for one last tour of the shrubs before he settles down to sleep. Why might this be? One theory is that their bright color is less conspicuous in the dimming light so they are less likely to attract unwanted attention from predators.

Peanut Thief

 

Acrylic on Board      6x6

I'm not wearing a hat! Those feathers sticking up on my head is how us Blue Jays smile. I found a people giving out real peanuts. The fresh kind that come from the people store, not the pet shop. The best kind! And I don't steal them, I procure them for my family and I. I'm not mean either, you have it all wrong.

Snow Fun Blue Jay

 Acrylic on Board    5x7

Snow fun or (It')s no fun? I think this Blue Jay thinks it's fun to try to catch a falling snow flake. Silly bird.

Blue Blue Blue

 Acrylic on Board  5x7

The cup is wondering where the week went. The blue berries are just hanging out, and the orange is just glad you didn't say banana.

Dusty

 Acrylic on Board  5x7

Dusty is just a baby and is having a hard time keeping up with the herd. He calls out to his mama to slow down but she can't hear him over the thundering sounds of the other elephants. Don't worry he will catch the hang of being one of the group. Sometimes nature must allow a struggle in order to reap a benefit.

Hold Still Tomato

 Acrylic on Cradled Board  8x8   SOLD

It's hard to get sassy vegetables to hold still for paintings. Sometimes you have to bribe them by promising not to eat them when you are done, and flattering them by telling them they are stars of the produce world. Technically tomatoes are considered fruit, but we all still think of them as vegetables for some reason. I know I do. I have been working on some larger paintings of wolves lately, but decided to take a break and come back to adding some smaller works here.

An Extraordinary Bear

 Acrylic on Cradled Board   5x7

Teddy considers himself a rugged outdoors bear, as he reads his books about the Northwoods bundled in his hat and scarf, in front of a sunny window. He doesn’t like to get too dirty or cold. He doesn’t like bugs landing on him. He doesn’t eat too many berries because they could give him diarrhea. He doesn’t like to walk on wet rocks because he could slip and fall. He doesn’t like loud thunder or noisy crickets. He’s not a real bear, but he thinks he is. He’d like to go to a home where there is not a lot of yelling, lots of pets, and where he can watch his shows when they are on.

Bear at Sundown

 Acrylic on Canvas  5x7

This bear is ambling toward it's night time resting space. The sun is setting and it is thinking of eating enough to make it through the coming winter. Hopefully not the likes of Timothy Treadwell the poor foolish man who was eaten by a bear he loved so much. Be careful, wildlife should be loved and admired from a distance.

Are Ewe Hungry?

 

Acrylic on Canvas Board   5x7

This little lamb is always the first in the barn when the feed bag is put out. She seems to have an uncanny sense of time and beats all the others to the food line. Is she smart, or just hungry?

Blue Jay "Bob"

 Acrylic on Canvas Board  5x7

I call this bird "Bob" after Canadian artist Robert Bateman. I have been watching his youtube videos and he speaks about how the animals we see in nature are often hidden from our view. He likes to include obstructions like branches, and imperfect leaves in his paintings. I was inspired to try that myself. I found this Blue Jay a few weeks ago sitting in the branches of a crab apple tree. The leaves show the scarring of apple scab so common in this species. The Jay looks over his shoulder and for a moment you catch his eye.

Sheltie Puppy

 Acrylic on Cradled Board    5x5

My own puppy was a model for this painting. I've had a sheltie in my life since 1982. I find them to be extremely intelligent dogs, and once they learn your schedule they will keep you to it whether you like it or not!

Kitchen Oranges

 Acrylic on Cradled Board   8x8

I like to paint from life as often as I can. It helps to sharpen my skills. This painting started to take a turn for the worse at some point. I am always kind of glad when that happens because it forces me to loosen up and take chances. Many of my paintings start out as something else! When they fail, I paint over them. This also has the advantage of adding texture and interest.

Canyon Raven

 Acrylic on Canvas   5x7

To make a painting I am happy with always involves taking chances. Sometimes that leads to a disaster and I end up painting over the whole thing when my idea falls apart. I am always glad though when things begin to go wrong. It means I will stop being so careful with the marks I make, and that is when magic can happen. That is when an animal or bird can come alive and shake off a stiff, stifled look. I could have painted this raven's every feather, but it was so much more fun to let him evolve without overthinking the process.

Blue Jay

Acrylic on Canvas   5x5

Not everyone loves Blue Jay's but I do! They are so clever, and their plumage so bright. The calls they make are unique, my favorite is the squeaky door. I usually hear at least one as I'm out walking the dog in the mornings. This painting has some texture as I used a knife in places. I also gave it some interest by incorporating unexpected color dashes like violet. The orange and blue of the composition give this a bright sparkle to match the personality of the bird.

Blue Sky Cardinal

 Acrylic on Canvas  5x5     SOLD

This simple color scheme shows off the subject's vibrant red color. I like adding interest with textural marks so your eye does not become bored.

Crow

Acrylic on Canvas  6x6

I have painted crows many times and it is always a challenge to find different ways to depict what from a distance, look like plain black birds. I assure you they are not! So intelligent and interesting to observe.

 

Spirit of Place Prairie

 Acrylic on Canvas Board    5x7

As I painted this it took me back to the day I took the reference picture and how I felt. It was a Friday afternoon, and I was on my work route just before lunch. Snow had just started to fall. This account was a beautiful office overlooking a Midwestern prairie that was carefully created. It was quiet. One of the advantages to my job was I was able to visit many different office spaces. Some of them junky and old, and some of them with spectacular views even in the midst of a busy suburban city. As I visited this place weekly, I hoped one day to see a coyote or even a fox pass through, but I never did. I did watch the seasons pass, and this painting represents a favorite memory.

Fall Birch Trees

 Acrylic on Canvas Board    SOLD

This painting happened spontaneously after I had tried and failed three times at painting a bird. I was sure the bird was going to be a great image, but I couldn't get it to work. In my frustration I began painting over it in bright colors in a haphazard way when this Fall scene began to appear. Sometimes successful paintings are born when you lower your expectations. That's when the surprises happen. The best laid plans are not always best.