Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Dryer Lint Nest.


Dryer Lint Nest
6x7" watercolor on Yupo
Sold

I was given this wonderful nest last week.
The eggs were still in there - never hatched.
Lots of dryer lint was attached by strands
of horse tail hair and stuffed between twigs.
Quite amazing how those birds are such
good engineers...
BUT
they do not know dryer lint is bad for
them if they use it.

Chemicals 
From the soap and dryer sheets.
Dust
Dry, loose lint causes respiratory problems.
Scent
Attracts predators right to a vulnerable nest

There are other serious problems too,
 but the thing I hope to pass on
 is not to put dryer lint out for
the birds during the nesting season.
I used to, but not anymore.

There had to be a reason these eggs
did not hatch.







35 comments:

  1. A topic never thought, for me, because here,
    this product is not for sale , (or if there is I've never seen).

    Gorgeous nest , that shares, visually, your feelings and thoughts in so sensitive painting.

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    1. Hi Rita, thanks for such a beautiful comment. You are also an artist who puts her feelings into her paintings. I always have an emotional response to your work.

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  2. I love the effects I see when artists use Yupo. Never having given it a go myself, I really think you could have inspired me to give it a try. This is a beautiful painting.

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    1. Hope you do try Yupo, Ann - with your skill level you will have a blast. On your post today with the strawberries, you mentioned you liked the way the ink had an random effect which you liked and that is similar to what happens with Yupo. Thanks for the visit.

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  3. Beautiful painting and a good lesson.We are a backyard wild life sanctuary with lots of birds and seagulls. I will pass this info on to all my bird friends.

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  4. Hi Blanche - good to hear from you. Lucky you living in an area like that.
    Thanks for the visit. Miss seeing your paintings.

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  5. I never thought about dryer lint at all--I've never thought of putting it anywhere other than in the trash. I do think your painting is charming. The composition and rendering is admirable.

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  6. Julie, I cannot believe the complexity of this subject matter - nest with unhatched eggs, dryer lint, horse hair and all. I could never dare to attempt anything so involved. And yet you captured the essence of it all and made it seem so simple! Bravo! And I learned something new about birds and dryer lint today - thank you!

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    1. You are so nice, Susan. Thank you.
      It is funny - I look at your portrait and think how complex that is.
      Your redhead's hair for example... with all the curls tumbling down
      looking "just right". That would be so hard for me to do.

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  7. A VERY charming painting. I guess a nest reminds us all of "home" and being cared for! Really lovely

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    1. Thanks Celeste. Your painting of the artist brushes made me feel the "home" too.

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  8. Very wonderful painting, interestin technique and very attractive colours !!!
    Have a happy day Julie !!!

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    1. I like the color of your building too. thanks for always commenting is such a positive and encouraging way.

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  9. Julie, Your nest paintings never fail to amaze me....lovely!

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    1. the nest themselves never fail to amaze me, too. Glad you like it.
      Your berries are a beautiful start to the season, Carol.

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  10. That's a sad tale! Poor birds. All of that effort.

    The piece is beautiful especially now that I know the story.

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    1. I know...sad indeed, thanks Libby.
      It is neat following your venture into new territory.

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  11. Julie this is breathtaking. Always your art is beautiful but there is such a love of birds that comes through in your nest paintings that just is overwhelming gorgeous. So beautiful and I can see why it is sold. Also thank you for sharing about the dryer lint. Never have put mine out before but for sure will not now. Have a wonderful day. Hugs!

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    1. I am happy my love comes through in my painting. I feel it ,but cannot "see" it.
      I enjoyed your Indian Summer post and seeing Sarge and Shelby.

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  12. Beautiful painting Julie. I am always amazed by how you apply your techniques to watercolor. Poor birds tho :(

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    1. thanks so much and let me return the compliment with your dramatic landscape. Such beautiful color harmony.

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  13. Love your painting, Julie. Just by looking at the work one can tell how much love goes into these nest paintings. And, the Yupo! I dearly love the effects it produces!

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    1. You always say such encouraging comments - thanks Carol.
      I see your post on Blog Around the World, has been popular. I really enjoyed the artists you introduced us to.

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  14. Love your nests Julie but really I am drawn to the use of green in this one. It let's my eye travel around and gives a certain life to the painting. Great.

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    1. I agree about the leaves. Color is important to both of us. Just thought...
      No color in your latest one but you make up for it with strong values and design.,

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  15. A very informative post Julie! Thanks for sharing!! LOVE, love your nest paintings. You do such beautiful work with watercolor on Yupo. !!!

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    1. Yupo success is still elusive and I was lucky with this one.
      Looking forward to your new painting.

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  16. I like this piece as well. Very nice loose style.The colour balance is fantastic, too.

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  17. This is one more beautiful nest paintings from you with beautiful thoughts as well. Probably intuitively they knew it was not the right path to hatch.The sensitivity behind the topic shows through the work Julie.

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  18. That is an interesting thought. .. better than me worrying that the parent birds died.
    Your new ocean painting has the most beautiful colors. I love it.

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  19. Wonderful texture in this....just lovely!! Thanks for passing along the information about the dryer sheets. The poor little babies were tucked between the chemicals.

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  20. Beautiful nest painting Julie. I just don't know how you do it! I never knew that about dryer sheets. You would think the birds would have the instincts to know better.

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  21. This is just beautiful, Julie. I love the green leaves that gift life to this nest!

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  22. A very interesting comment to accompany your beautiful and poignant painting Julie. I hadn't even heard of the lint idea for bird's nests so it was an insight for me both on the existence of the practise and the potential dangers of it.

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie