Sunday, July 28, 2013

Only Three Days Left to 30/30 July

Two more shorebirds have been painted.  Three days left but I have five paintings to do to complete the project.  I'll get them done.  Good news is ten of this month's paintings are headed to South Carolina!
Oystercatcher

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Two More Done

Third time's a charm....got the wren just the way I wanted it with this final attempt.  Check out the moth, too.  My husband found it in our backyard.  A little scraggly around the edges but a beautiful specimen nonetheless.  Loved working with the muted and faded colors of this animal.

Only seven days left, including today.

Carolina Wren 3

Big Moth
 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Two Carolina Wrens....which do you like and why?

I needed a break from shore birds so my daughter suggested I paint the state bird of South Carolina.  Wrens are one of my favorite birds.  Naturally, I thought it was a great idea.  After the first painting was complete I saw things in it that I really liked and one thing that I didn't.  I tried once again, with a similar result.  Still, I like them both too much to trash them.  What do you like or not about these two?


Sunday, July 21, 2013

All Caught Up and Nine Days to Go!

Boneparte's

Eastern Screech Owl 2

Pelican Post

Way Up North

White Ibis March

Willet 2
Eastern Screech Owl 1
Finally caught up.  It's been a very productive weekend with seven paintings produced!  Cousin Beth set me up with lots of photos to work from.  These are just a few species she sent me from Florida.  There's more that I am inspired by but I'm feeling the need to get outdoors and paint.  Maybe in August.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

As I continue striving to reach a balance between abstract and reality, looseness and accuracy....

two more paintings are created.  What do you think?

Black-Necked Stilt

Willet

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Trying to Catch Up!

I spent all last week at a conference for Natural Science Illustrators and it was splendid.  But during my stay I did not have much time to paint each day so now I'm now trying to catch up!  Here are some new works and more will come soon.  I'll be caught up by the end of the week!
Eastern Bluebird

Great Egret 2

Great Horned Owl

Snowy Egret 2

Snowy Egret 1

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Spending a week amongst colleagues

I decided to attend this year's Guild of Natural Science Illustrator's conference in Bar Harbor, ME.  Wasn't at all sure I should plunk down the money to attend but I felt a need to surround myself with colleagues from an earlier period of my career.  So glad I did.

I've been contemplating the notion of getting back to that earlier period of work; illustrating for books.  I sometimes miss the slow, careful renderings of plants and animals.  Although I've had some terrific illustration projects over the years, I don't feel I've reached the pinnacle of my work in that area yet.  So, I thought it would be good to come back to the group, network and see if it's even feasible for me to step back into that arena.  Is it worth the investment of time and money (neither of which I have a lot, by the way)?  After two days I'm leaning towards it not being a good idea.  But, because I'm compelled to do things the hard way, I am not convinced yet that I won't put forth a small investment into finding maybe just the right project.  Although the industry is heavy on digital art (something I saw coming twenty years ago but decided not to follow), I believe there is still some publishing houses using beautifully hand-drawn art.  They may be far and few between but by putting my message out there to the universe it's possible we'll find each other.

More work to come....

More new works!

I've been away since Wednesday but have kept up (mostly) with painting each day.  Here are the latest works:
Great Egret 10 x 7.5"

Storm Over Chocorua   10 x 7.5"

Great Blue Heron   10 x 7.5"

Cluster of Birches, sketchbook

Because I am away I've been taking a photo of each work with my phone.  Not the best quality but all I have at my disposal until Friday.  Over the weekend I'll scan each work and repost.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Evening Watch

Today's painting is another Great Blue Heron.  Can't get tired of painting this animal.  It's a quiet scene....that moment just before daylight is completely gone.
Evening Watch    11 x 7.5"

Monday, July 1, 2013

30/30 is on!

Two new paintings completed on the first day of the event.  One of these three was actually done in 2012 but I included it earlier in the day on Facebook, just as a teaser.  Getting warmed up for another 30/30 event.  This month I'm working on semi-commission for a designer in South Carolina so most of the work will not be immediately for sale.  However, if a work really resonates with you, let me know.  I'll put your name on it (first-come, first-serve basis) and if the piece doesn't go to South Carolina at end of the month you may purchase it.  :-)

Here we go!
Great Blue Heron on Treetop    7 x 7.5", unframed

River Value Study    10.25 x 6", unframed

Spotting Something!    7 x 7.5", unframed