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Category: Reference Photos

April 17, 2011
Kathy
5 Comments

Eagle Cam Update: They’re getting big!

Posted in Reference Photos

Eagle Cam Update: They're getting big!

I wrote a week or so ago about the Eagle nest cam in Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Virgina. The three babies are  getting big! They are just starting to get their real feathers along their back  now.  It is so interesting to see an adult beak on the fluffy babies.  One of them was sitting up looking around this morning so you could really get a good look  at him.  Like many others, I was checking to see that they all made it through the terrible storms from last night.
It's an awesome chance to see eagle babies and the adults up close and  in action.  If you are an artist, it's a terrific opportunity to observe the eagles up close in their natural habitat.

Here's the link.

If you look on the right, below the camera link, you'll find slide show of photos of the whole family. Including this one:

Baby eagles at Norfolk Botantical Gardens in Virgina

Slide #14 from April 15,  2011

April 15, 2011
Kathy
One Comment

Shell Reference Photos

Posted in Reference Photos

Shell Reference Photos

I'm working on a painting that has shells in it. I have a basket of shells from New England shores and Florida that I pull out for reference.  Sometimes I'll stage them in a tray of sand.  I've even staged them in a tray of sand with flip flops for a painting. You can see a peek at the results on my blog header above. 

I  photograph them as well. When they sit in sunlight it allows me to see the true colors and where the natural highlights and shadows lie .  It's also really helpful to have photos too when something fragile like a shell  is suddenly in pieces on the floor.  While looking for guilty faces, you can still move forward on your painting. 

A really simple way way of photographing them is to lay them on a piece of foam board. The foam board is sturdy enough to move around with the shells to adjust the way the light falls or carry the whole set up outside. I photograph outside in sunlight or set up next to a sunny window.  The white of the foam board allows me to see how the shadows of the shells fall. The piece of sea glass on the lower right photo has an interesting shadow.  Here is some of my shell reference photos:

Shell reference photos

April 12, 2011
Kathy
4 Comments

Spring Yellow

Posted in Reference Photos

Spring Yellow

All the early spring flowers are bursting in bloom!  My favorite time of spring.  It's not hot yet, the bugs are still where ever they stay for winter, and the first flowers are blooming like crazy. I've noticed around here in Pennsylvania that yellow and pink seem to be the big colors for the spring floral season.  Add a few flashes of white too

My favorite part is seeing a pairing of  a bush or tree with a matching flower.  For instance, in a past yard, we unknowingly planted pink hyacinth under a cherry tree.  What a delicious pairing – they both bloomed at the same time, in the same shade of pink.  In my yard now, yellow daffodils are planted next to forsythia. Both bloom at the same time for a wonderful burst of yellow.    Enjoy the Spring colors !

Forsythia and Daffodils in Bloom


April 8, 2011
Kathy
One Comment

Eagle Nest Cam from Norfolk Botanical Garden,Virgina

Posted in Reference Photos

Eagle Nest Cam from Norfolk Botanical Gardens,Virgina

Hi Everyone!

If you haven't seen this Eagle cam from Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Virginia, then you are missing out on something special. The camera is set near the nest and is so clear and simply fantastic. The camera is in color and they zoom in and out of the nest so you feel like you are right there in the tree with the eagles. I've been watching on and off  since the 1st egg hatched. There are now three hatched eaglets. To see the mother and father eagles flying in and out with fish for the babies, and settling on the nest is just fantastic. This morning I am watching the three babies as nestled together in the nest while the parents are out catching food.  Here is the website:

Eagle Cam from Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Virginia

There is a live moderated discussion tab on the right where you can ask questions and they provide up to date information on the activity in the nest. Lots of videos of the eggs and eaglets on tabs beneath the camera shots.

Eagle and three eaglets

This photo is from wvec.com

As an artist, it's been a treat to see eagles extremely up close and in movement. Sometimes the camera is in so close that you can see the feather markings  and how the white head feathers overlap the brown body feathers.   Watching the babies move and seeing their fluff has been fun. I've spent several mornings sketching  and am looking forward to using my sketches in future paintings.