How long does it take to get rusty?
I haven't been able to paint for a while; sometimes life just gets in the way. Once things slowed down, I found myself putting off getting back to it. When I finally sat down in front of a canvas, it was hard... hard to get it right.
I suppose painting is no different than any other skill; you have to practice to stay in shape.
We have the most wonderful cardinals that splash their red color onto the dreary, wintry landscape behind our house. They flit and play and watch closely for me to come around with my camera so that they can quickly fly away!
One day I was determined to be still long enough to capture them in a few photos. I really wanted to get the male and female together - preferably on a pretty branch posed perfectly, but this was a close as they would get to that.
I'd originally thought it would be neat to paint them on a tall thin canvas like they actually were, but it looked odd. Also I decided to use my license, my artistic license, to give a little more color and a little less twigs to their background.
Do birds have facial expressions?
I wouldn't think so...
They don't have lips so they can't smile or frown. They don't have eyebrows so they can't scowl.
So...
Why does this little cardinal look so angry?
After painting three other cardinals, this guy came together pretty fast, but he looks so mad!
I bought two bird feeders just so I could lure him (an his friends) to within camera range. It worked. They love the birdseed; however, they can tell when I get the camera out. I think they're actually angry when they hear the click.
Hmmmm... maybe the picture is right!
[SOLD]
What sight makes you stop and take a moment to enjoy?
... a rainbow...
... a clear night sky filled with stars...
... the orange sky as the sun sets...
... a full moon...
... red cardinal on a winter day...
Enjoy an Etsy treasury (collection of related art pieces) that celebrates all kinds of birds. Click Birdsong.
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Shouldn't things be easier the second time around?
That wasn't the case for me and this painting. I'd actually painted this little guy before, (Click "Snow Cardinal" to see the first version.) but it sold. Usually I'm thrilled when paintings sell, but I really missed this one. I decided I'd whip out another one just like the first; however, I ran into all kinds of frustrations - problems with the colors in the background, issues with the snow on the branches, headaches with the balls hanging from the tree... one thing after another. I had to put it aside and almost gave up several times. I was about ready to scrape the whole thing off when I received my Tip of the Week video from Daniel Edmondson: the title was "Don't Scrape Off Your Paintings." Perfect timing... As it turns out, the whole thing wasn't a mess, just a few parts. I'm not sure he's perfect, but I'm glad to have him back on the wall - at least until someone buys him for their own wall.
This little bird and his wife teased me during a snow day last winter. Right outside my window they'd flit and fly. They'd rest on a perch; then off they'd go. Finally, just once, he sat still long enough for me to snap his picture!
Also visit a lovely Etsy treasury (collection of related art pieces) celebrating winter called Winter Wonderland where this little cardinal got to be a part of the collection.
When you catch a glimpse of unexpected color in nature, do you stop to appreciate it?
There's a line in The Color Purple implying that God isn't happy with us when we see the color purple in a field and don't stop to notice it.
How about the daffodils that poke their heads up before spring arrives?
Red clover on a hill?
A hummingbird's throat?
A baboon's behind?
Of course sunsets and rainbows.
And cardinals in the snow...
This little bird and his wife teased me during our last snow day. Right outside my window they'd flit and fly. They'd find a perch, then off they'd go. Finally, just once, he sat still long enough for me to snap his picture!
Original Oil Painting
[SOLD]
One day I was determined to be still long enough to capture them in a few photos. I really wanted to get the male and female together - preferably on a pretty branch posed perfectly, but this was a close as they would get to that. 
