Blue Eyes

The weather took a bit of a turn today, a cold snap I think you might say.  I had to close the windows and turn the heat on in the house.  I must say that made me a bit sad.  Perhaps that is what led me back to the Florida vacation pictures that I took in March.   Those pelicans, I got some really good photos of them.  And better yet, I got to study them closely.  They just sat VERY still and while they seemed somewhat cautious, they pretty much let me move in close and get acquainted with them.  I really enjoyed seeing their eyes up close.  Crystal blue eyes with pink surrounding them.  So pretty.  I painted a close up of this one.  The long beak and silver back was interesting, but I really wanted to show the eye.  I like him.

This painting is for sale in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/188124348

 

Betty

Thank you for joining me in this little slice of my life

Heart full of soul

     I grew up with the kitchen radio on the local AM station broadcasting stock reports, obituaries and the swapshop.  Mom and Dad had control of the radio, so I was driving before I really got into music.  My husband still can't believe I had never heard of the Yardbirds, his favorite British group in 1964.  First of all, I was only 9 years old in 1964.  I was playing with baby dolls and jacks.  I am finally into Yardbirds.  Well, birds...watercolor birds.  The Yardbirds had a hit "Heart full of soul".   I think my bird has a heart full of soul too.  Look at that eye, he's got soul. 

Painting is available in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/187289004/

 

Betty

Thanks for sharing in this little slice of my life

In a row

When I am in Florida I love to watch the birds.   I know there is a huge amount of beautiful blue water, endless sky, awesome boats, swaying palm trees and gaggles of interesting people but I like to watch the birds.  I am so impressed by their calm passing of time, just sitting.  They do a little grooming, take a nap, squawk some, but mostly just sit.  Just sitting in the sun.  I love to see several of them occupying the same railing or deck.  They sit for a while then calmly fly away, moving on to the next spot where they sit.  I painted this watercolor from a photo I took in Florida recently.  It gives me a very peaceful feeling.  I hope you enjoy it too. 

Painting is for sale in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/187114790/

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Country Cousin

Country Cousin is another sweet little seagull painted from my friend Jared's photos.   Soft grays and browns of the seagull against the soft aqua and old gold gives this painting a vintage feel much like Cottage gull that I painted recently.   I think they look like they must be at least cousins!  I hope you enjoy these sweet birds.

Painting is available for sale in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/186967665

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing this little slice of my life

Paint like it's 1982

I bought my first original piece of art in 1982.  A flowering cactus watercolor.  A simple painting with just a bit of the cactus with 3 little yellow blooms.  I LOVED that painting.  It hung on my wall for the next 30 years.  I can tell you that I looked at that painting many times and thought "I wish I could paint like that".  I allowed life to push my desire to paint back for a long time.  I have been painting with watercolors for about two years now and oh what a joy.  Today I decided to paint like it's 1982.  I like it. 

Painting is for sale in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/186459151

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

 

Gotta love a good goose

Sometimes a goose is a bad thing.  This time the goose is a good thing.  Gary Richardson took a fantastic photograph of a white goose.  Thank you, Gary for letting me paint this beauty.  I see geese on the lake often, but I have never seen one like this.   With some research I learned that this is a White Chinese Goose.  The snowy white feathers, blue eye with orange rim and awesome orange bill with a large knob makes this guy OUTSTANDING in my book.  I am pretty sure I will paint this bird again, so be alert, you never know when you might get your next goose!  

This painting is for sale in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/186237321

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Goodbye Benton, hello Holland

I am so thrilled to be sending one of my paintings to Holland!  Every sale is a treat to me, it just tickles me to pieces when people want to buy my art.  But this painting is going all the way to the Netherlands!  My friend Di Winson provided the outstanding photograph of the orange pepper, thank you again, Di.  I sent three paintings to Baton Rouge,  Louisiana this morning and three to Edmond Oklahoma earlier this week.  I love getting to share my paintings!  

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Cottage Seagull

Well, what a sweet little seagull came to my house!  This is from another one of my friend Jared's photos.  Thank you Jared.  Something about this little guy gives him a "cottage" feel to me.  My soft aqua background with some old gold behind the grays and browns of the bird is so peaceful.  I think he nearly has an antique look, vintage at least.  I have painted quite a few seagulls, and each one is different.  I like this one.
 

This painting is available in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/185800113

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Perfect subject - Diver

 I got some new watercolor paint this week.  I had not gotten any in a while.  I bought tons when I first started using watercolors and realized I actually just use about 4 tubes 90% of the time.  But sometime you just need a treat.  I ordered a red-orange and a blue-green in a brand that I really like.  Red-orange and blue-green were my favorites in the crayola box in grade school, those colors are still favorites of mine today.  It was a gift when I looked at some photographs from my friend Jared who is currently living in Florida.  The perfect subject for my new red-orange was in the photographs!  I even snuck some blue-green in the white of the bird.  Thanks Jared Whitehead!

This painting is available in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/185727771

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life