Cutie! - day 4 of the Challenge

Cutie!

6x6in watercolor on paper  NFS

Artist Note.

When I compare this to yesterday's

bird, I have to laugh. 

Did the same artists do them?

This one is obviously fresh and 

spontaneous - yesterday's was labored and 

 I became so frustrated.

This one is a quick recording of what 

I saw and felt...not meant to be a 

a finished painting.

Neither was the other.

I prefer different areas in each of them.

 So what happens 

to the eye, mind and hand?

Consistency is elusive.

Ask any golfer!

A new nest - on loan from a friend.

Better than flowers... for me!

Meet Mr. Gull

Meet Mr.Gull

8x6in oil on linen  SOLD

Artist Note

This is a repeat from an old post .
This is a quick sketch from the photo of a gull on

Daily Paintworks Challenge

back in Sept 2012

I decided to repost some old posts during this month

and with vacation time/gull season upon us
I thought  it would be fun to revisit Mr. Gull.

Working from a photo is hard for me, but seeing I do not live

among the gullies, I gave it a go. I also used the fracturing

technique. Poor Gull!

I want to tell you about the canvas I used. SENSO

It is a primed linen, but the priming is a clear acrylic so the natural

color of the linen can be used to advantage as a middle value and

neutral color. I buy it in pads and if there is a painting I do which

I like then I mount it on a board.

I left some of the linen showing as this was a sketch and

I wanted to keep that casual feel.

I really like this product.

With picking up an "old post" I see that the
comments also followed along. I do not know how
to keep them with the 2012 version and not this one.
Does anyone know?

Watercolor Weekend - Cactus Wren

Cactus Wren Study

8x5in watercolor on paper  NFS

Continuing my exploration of nests and feathers.
I had a Cactus Wren build a large and wonderful
nest very close the house. The opening is on the side,
very protected among the spikes of the cactus.
A large 'something' attacked the nest and tore
it apart. I found myself rather upset when I saw
lots of feathers on the ground.
We have Roadrunners here which are
large enough to do the damage, but they usually
stay away from cactus. Maybe a hawk from above?
Can anyone enlighten me?

Artist note.
These Strathmore sketch books (I have mentioned
before) come in beige and gray paper as well as white..
I used the beige one for this sketch.
They are adequate, not great, for watercolor as
they buckle a bit, but still very satisfactory for just
the simple enjoyment of piddling with ideas and concepts.
I do not usually paint the bird, but this one happened
all on its own. Maybe in memoriam?