Chickadee

Chickadees are one of my favorite birds. This little watercolor sketch was done on hot press watercolor paper.

Easter Chick

When I was young it wasn't unusual for parents to give their children live baby chicks, ducks, or bunnies for Easter. Why, I am not sure. The kids got tired of taking care of them within a week which meant the parents were stuck with the chore. When they got tired of the job and if the animal hadn't died yet they had to find a place to dump the innocent little creatures.

The feathers were the easiest part of this painting. The legs and feet were very hard. If I ever want to get this correct I will need to paint a whole farmyard full of chicks. Not seeing that happening.

Female Hummingbird

I finished the mate to my male Ruby Throated Hummingbird. I found this one harder to paint. The need to match the colors, to some degree, to the original bird so the pair could be hung side by side.

Male Ruby Throat Hummingbird

It was fun to get back into painting. This past month has been hard. We lost our 14 year old sheltie, Jake. I plan on doing the female so I will have a pair. I have a  guest bedroom with a hummingbird duvet that this will be perfect for the wall.

Last bird posting

I finished off my Buildings sketchbook and Nesting sketchbook. That leaves only one unfinished general sketchbook for the year. This is the last bird in my Nesting sketchbook.

Duck

Rather colorless duck. I sketched him in pencil first then add gray watercolor for shading and dull plumage. Not exciting but an exercise in value.

Sunbathing

My old gray goose sunbathing on a rock shelf by the pond. This is in my Nesting sketchbook. Only 3 more spread to finish it off. Not sure I will make my self imposed deadline. I caught a cold and have had very little energy.

Duck, Goose, Turtles

More from my Hill Top Inn photos to fill my "Nesting" sketchbook.

Yes, it's the old gray goose again

I have really enjoyed sketching from the photos I took at the Hill Top Inn in the fall. I think it may be because I really connected with these guys. They weren't just photos but I was there long enough for them to share their personalities with me.

Three Little Birds

Another page closer to filling this sketchbook, "Nesting".

Bluebird

My last "framed" posting. This is the first frame I created over a month ago and just got around to filling it. We have lots of Eastern Bluebird around out house.

Poppies and a blue jay

Thanksgiving and preparations for Christmas have taken most of my time, leaving little for art. But I have started playing with frames. I like the way Leslie Fehling uses frames in her sketches so I decided to copy some of her designs and place my own sketches inside. First my frames are too large for the interior sketches. Also I prefer my simple line or no frame on my sketches. Yet I still like and admire Leslie's work. I have made 4 frames and filled two. Will try to fill the remaining two but don't think this is a style I will incorporate into my sketchbook. It just isn't me.

Goose at Pond Edge

Another view of the gray goose.

Duck Couple

Another sketch from one of the photos I took at the Hill Top Inn. The rock formations around the grounds were interesting. They were flat gray and looked like very thick pancake batter that was pour out. They appear all over the lawns. These were around one of the ponds. The white duck was the female and the malard duck was the male. I can't remember their names. But the female was the guardian and did not like me.

Three Geese Heads

Still working on drawing geese. Like the bottom one best, but more practice is needed. Had hoped to get out today and draw from life. Instead I took my husband to the doctor's office for this cold/flu thing that is going around. Plus the wind is a bit strong for my new plein air set up so I couldn't have used it anyway. Thank goodness I took enough photos recently to keep me busy.

Resting Peacock

A quick sketch of a peacock at the Temple Hill Farm.

Chicken

I am guessing it is a chicken and not a rooster. My knowledge of farm animals is very limited. This chicken lives at the Temple Hill Farm in Leesburg Virginia. I went out Tuesday on a paint out with the Loudoun Sketch Club. We are scheduled to return to the same location next Tuesday. I am trying to decide if I want to go back. There are chickens, goats, and pigs 5 minutes from my house. I might go there instead.

Duck, Duck, Goose

A couple of value sketches of the white duck and gray goose at the inn.

White Duck

Last week we went to a winery and then stayed over night at a B&B. We had a great time. The inn had 3 small ponds where a duck couple and a gray goose lived. This duck was not particularly fond of me. She chased me twice. I guess I invaded her personal space while photographing her and her friends.

Peacock

I belong to two local art groups, one for my oriental brush painting and a general art group, the Loudoun Sketch Club. The LSC has paint outs during the warmer months of the year. Unfortunately I haven't taken much advantage of going out with them this year. But yesterday I did go after being encouraged to do so by a fellow member. It was one of the few hot days we have experience this fall but it was great to get out and paint with other artists. Since it was my first time in ages to attempt plein air painting I decided to start with my sketchbook, pen & ink, and watercolor. I also took a complete watercolor set up just in case I got ambitious. I did not. Sketching and bag lunch was about all I was up for. But they always go to the same location two weeks in a row. That way you can complete a painting with the same lighting. So I may go over my photos and see it I want to plan a painting from one of them and return. There were chickens, pig, piglets, turkeys, and goats. Plus a lovely brick home, barns, out buildings, corn fields, and pastures. Hopefully I will be better at taking advantage of these outings next year.

I have been sketching. I have been taking Liz Steel's Sketching Now - Buildings class on-line. It is a good class and I think my buildings are improving. But the main thing that will improve my sketching is just practicing sketching more and more buildings on location.

I have also being working out compositions for my Taos acrylic paintings series. I have to get on them before the excitement fades.