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