Side Entry Nest
11x9" watercolor on Yupo Paper NFS
Day 30
Artist Note.
A friend gave me this wonderful
nest recently.
He knew that the nest was no
longer occupied and he thoughtfully
included the tree branches which
supported it rather than
destroy it's structure.
I love the "side entry" type nest, but this one
tragically came with two tiny
skeletons in the interior.
Unanswered questions.
Were they too large to have
been recently hatched?
Or were they the parents?
I will be very respectful
in my handling of them
and their lovingly made home
If you can use your imagination
there are two leaves up on the right
near the opening which I painted to
form an abstract shape suggesting
a bird flying towards it.
This is the last painting
for the challenge.
I will do a wrap up of my experience
tomorrow.
What a gorgeous painting to end the month with, Julie! and the story behind it makes us all wonder what happened? I love the light hitting the awesome branches and those purples are so perfect! LOVE this piece and Congratulations on completing this challenge !!
ReplyDeleteYou pay me the complement of really looking at and reading my posts, Hilda. Bless you.
DeleteI still am loving those little shoes you painted.
Bonjour chère amie,
ReplyDeletePour finaliser l'ensemble de ce défi peindre un nid c'est très délicat... Il sera le berceau d'une trentaine de belles oeuvres !
Gros bisous ♡
how poetic your words are. Cradle of thirty... thank you so much, Martine
DeleteAs always, so beautiful, so intriguing!
ReplyDeletethank you so much, Martine.
DeleteI have enjoyed the diversity of your work during the challenge, very much.
Some mysteries of nature have no answers, wonderful to preserve it and make it permanent through this lovely painting!
ReplyDeleteI love this comment. It is so true about the mystery of nature but I have never associated making it permanent thru art. Love that thought. Thank you Padmaja.
DeleteYou presented a favorite palette of mine in a new way. Love it. And my imagination works. Those two leaves have lots of meaning. Congrats on doing the challenge. I know how tired you must be. But you painted and you taught. thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am so glad you like the colors, Helen because I think we enjoy a similar color sense. Yep - I am tired, but only because I have had so many other things going on, too. That seems to be the way life is...don't you agree?rich
DeleteI think your Bold Roses painting has rich colors and a great design.
Oh I agree. We have to fight to get time for our art. But it is so worth it.
DeleteI love the painting and to hear the respect in your voice for the inhabitants. You amaze, Julie.
ReplyDeleteNice comment, Sherry. I appreciate your understanding of my love for the avian life.
DeleteSuch a lovely piece with a story about those inhabitants that will now live on thanks to your work. Life is always a mixed bag isn't it?
ReplyDeleteLife sure is - thanks Libby.
DeleteNeat to see you are experimenting with texture.
I followed the challenge although not always I left my comments.
ReplyDeleteYour works on Yupo are always so full of gestures that reflects the work of your hand artistic with any medium.
My favorites are the nests, there is the meaning of life, something that goes beyond color value style of painting and shapes ... it's as if you wrote on any nest, a new poem charming to read.
Avian architecture reaches in and grabs my heart. No explaining it - just happens. I am pleased you respond to them.
DeleteThe painting you did of the grapes is truly amazing and a real inspiration.
Always I ask myself...how does she do that?!
You painted this fabulously , don't think I ever saw a side entry nest in nature , but it is so beautiful . Amazing really how these little creatures create such pieces of art !
ReplyDeleteI agree with you jane. How amazing that these birds can produce such amazing homes. They are works of art.
DeleteTalking of art...your abstract hit a home run. Wonderful!
What a magnificent way to "end the show" (challenge), Julie. You've given it superb emotional impact with your rendering and the story behind it. I'm always amazed that no matter how big the nest is or how much material was used to create it you always portray perfectly the delicateness and fragility of this structure. I think the Yupo paper enhances this characteristic with its runs and puddles of pigment.
ReplyDeleteI think I will print this out and pin it on my mirror to read for when I get frustrated. Thank you, Carol. You lift my art spirit.
DeleteThe yupo surface creates many difficult areas to overcome, but easy as can be in others. Like lifting out a problem - easy. Overlaying a wash - difficult.
It can be fun to experiment when there is no pressure to be perfect.
Bittersweet and lovely Julie.
ReplyDeleteYOU are sweet, Blanche. Thanks.
DeleteWhere is your new painting?
I so love what you achieve on Yupo. yesterday whilst having some dangerously loose trees roomed from storm damage an unused nest was saved so I now have a real prop.
ReplyDeleteI hope to see what you paint, soon Lorraine. Once you start looking at the nest you will find your admiration for the building skills goes way up high.
DeleteLoved your falcon. Amazing.
Julie, so heartwarming and beautiful. Congratulations on completing your 30 day challenge.
ReplyDelete"Thanks Joan. I admire you for starting your own "green" challenge.
DeleteThis painting is a perfect memorial to the two little birds that you found inside Julie. The nest couldn't have fallen into better hands. I love how they are a passion of yours and so nice that your friends keep a lookout for them on your behalf.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on completing the challenge - you've done it in your inimitable style!!
I am lucky with my friends collecting nest and feathers for me. I arrived at work this morning to find a beautiful, red tailed hawk feather someone had left for me.. Simply gorgeous. I am itching to paint it.
DeleteI enjoyed following your work in the challenge. Doing ink sketches was a great idea. Your work stood out.
This is so beautiful. Nests are an amazing thing when you think about how they are put together. One piece at a time and formed into such delicate shapes.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally. Amazing when you think of the skill involved.
DeleteYou did a great job on your collage.
I am still in awe that your style transfers over to the watercolors on yupo. I could see it somewhere else besides your blog and know it's a Julie Ford Oliver painting.
ReplyDeleteThe way you paint nests also amazes me. I see bird nests and feathers everywhere with all our trees and always think of you. Sad about the bird skeletons. Life is so fragile.
I have combed through all yourposts...congratulations on finishing another challenge! Loved the low light sunflowers with pomegranate. I could see the difference of the limited color palette...more subtle and so beautiful in its own way. Love the drawing on black and white too! "Way cool" as the youth would say.
xo
I am thrilled you can recognize my watercolors as mine, Lisa. I am working hard to be able to l have my oils and watercolors look consistent.
DeleteThanks for taking an interest in the challenge paintings. I do not see them clearly yet!
You are on a roll with your painting life. Love seeing you get back into your groove. Your work is marvelous.
My comment disappeared, don't understand what happened so now I'll just leave it at... this is breathtaking Julie and a perfect ending to your month long painting challenge! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks for retrying. It is a lovely comment and makes me feel good coming from you. You are such a wonderful watercolorist.
DeleteJulie - this is so beautiful. I didn't really have to use my imagination - spotted the shapes as soon as you pointed them out. Also saw inside the nest what looks like an orange portion of a black eyed Susan. Sorry about the skeletons...makes you wonder for sure what took place. Take care and thanks so much for sharing all your hard work during this challenge. I enjoyed each and everyone of your paintings. Have a beautiful day.
ReplyDeletereally pleased you like it - thanks Debbie.
DeleteThat is great that you spotted the shapes. We are on the same wavelength!
We both love nature.
Beautiful painting to finish the challenge Julie...the light on the branches, the edges and lovely color. Congratulations...I had so many favorites!
ReplyDeleteAnd your final collage is a wonderful display of figurative paintings. You really got into it.
DeleteThanks for the support and encouragement.
Really enjoyed seeing all your challenge work Julie. Congrats on achieving your goal. I have no idea how you managed it all in that short space of time.
ReplyDeleteLaughing here because I do not know either, Laura. Life got in the way so many times.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your last post. Not only for the lovely painting, but for the words ,too.
So thrilled to see SO MANY new paintings from you, Julie!! The watercolors are especially delightful. Congrats on doing the challenge.
ReplyDelete