Cactus Wrens

Cactus Wrens

6x8in oil on canvas panel NFS

Artist Note.

I decided to keep this one.

The Cactus Wren is a 

favorite of 

mine. 

Hard to spot with their 

very effective camouflage

markings when they are

in the desert and nest.

Did you know they mate for life?

Their beak is long for a reason,

they can be quite aggressive,

but the ones I have visit me

are models

of decorum with the other birds

at the feeders.

Happy St Patrick's Day!!

Look what I will be wearing.

A gift from a good friend.

She knows I love fun socks.

Thank you, Gail!

Avian Architecture - watercolor

Nest

6x8in  watercolor on moleskin book paper SOLD

Whenever I do a series I venture into various media to explore
different effects.  Here are a few of the watercolors I did.

Artist Note


The one above was the first of the watercolor sketches I did of the nests

I was experimenting with the fracturing technique using

the basic warm and cool colors. Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna.
Next came the one below - this time with less blue.
I dry brushed the really dark areas.

Nest in Tree  7 x 9   moleskin book paper  SOLD

The one below is a watercolor of a cactus wren's nest
on YES multi media canvas. I added some ochre and pale yellow
 to the palette and was careful not to use a staining color.
I found it easier to fracture in watercolor on the canvas than the paper.
I painted a dark shape for the nest and lifted out the shapes for
light nest material. I actually placed the wren in this one.
 My computer is acting weird and I keep
trying to download some of the others, but it is not working
going to have to let this be the last one.
Tomorrow I will show some of the others from the show.

Cactus Wren Nest   8x8  Yes canvas SOLD