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Tag: bird

Pheasant In My Yard

Posted in Reference Photos

Never know what will show up in the yard.  Last week brought a gorgeous pheasant!

Ring Necked Pheasant

We’ve never seen a pheasant hanging out around here. Taking a peek at allaboutbirds.com shows that they do actually live around here year round.  Who knew?

Rin Necked Pheasant

I like the way his white “collar” looks like the collar of a button down shirt. His face has iridescent green with a red around his eyes.

ring necked pheasant

The markings on this back are so interesting. Comma like half circles on the upper feathers, and stripes on the lower. You can see the shine of the iridescent on the back of his head.

ring necked pheasant

Here you can see the stripes on his tail and the great oranges and rust on his feathers.  Just a beautiful bird. I was able to take a fair amount of photos right through the window.  He will definitely show up in future paintings.

Oh Good Morning!

Posted in Reference Photos

Look who was hanging out on the deck yesterday morning when I opened the blinds:

Mourning Doves

They are so pretty in all their grey softness.   The peeling deck railings, ah……. not so much. They don't seem to care too much.

Mourning Dove Bathing

Wouldn't it be cool to back able to turn your head like that!  I like seeing all the feathers separated out so you can see the shape and the coloring. The dotted feathers are interesting.  And the red feet are surprising considering how soft the colors are on the rest of the bird.

Mourning Dove at SibStudio dot com

My favorite part of the dove is the metallic pink and blue feathers around the head. I wasn't able to get close enough to catch the metallic sheen.  When I think of the colors of nature, metallic is not one that I think of, but that's what you find on the head of a mourning dove.  This little guy has finished his bath and has fluffed out his feathers to soak in the morning sunlight.  I haven't painted  mourning doves, but these guys had me ready to grab my paint brushes. They were a wonderful morning surprise.
 

Happy Weekend!

Posted in Art Work

Ooops!  Where did the week go?! 

I am working on a new project . I'll have some updates by the end of the month. : )    In the meantime I am painting new work for the CCAA Exton gallery and my Etsy shop.  I am bored looking at the same art and I know you are too, so stay tuned for new artwork!

This time of year brings yard work at our house. We have the yard set up so most of the work needs to be done in the early spring. Which works great because that's before the ticks are out in full force and the weather is still cool. I found the first crocus bloom and a bluebird flew by! I was surprised by the bluebird – seems early to me. But I am wrong, they are here all winter – who knew?!  I didn't have my camera with me  – umm…  power hedge clippers and cameras don't mix – at least in this household. So I am including this terrific photo from smelllikedirt.wordpress.com blog  that I found thanks to Ginger on Pinterest.   The blue is so brilliant – it's an eye catching bird!  And does it bring happiness ?  Well  I was happy to finish the yard work today ; )

Chickadee Miniature Painting

Posted in Art Work

Chickadee Miniature Painting

I have a new miniature painting up on my Etsy shop.

Black Capped Chickadee in the snow

Isn't he cute? We have Black Capped Chickadees year round. However, we really don't see much of them until winter comes. The bare branches of the trees makes it easy to see them when they are hanging out.  I think they like the snow or maybe they just like that we tend to feed them more in the snow!  I painted this little guy sitting happily in the snow – probably waiting for the feeder to be refilled. : )