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

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

On Ice

Ok, yes, my first painting from my Florida trip is dead fish.  But not just dead fish, beautiful dead fish!  A trip to the fresh seafood market for supper one evening was a trememdous treat for me!   It rated right up there at the top of the list.  The fish were beautiful.  The red snappers all in a row on ice were my favorite.  Shiny scales and those indigo blue eyes, well it might not be normal, but I loved them.  Rest assured I have lots of birds waiting to be painted, but the fish on ice were first.  I am thinking I will paint red snappers again.

This painting is available in my Etsy Shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/183958911

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

 

 

Me and Booker T

Booker T and the MGs did "Green Onions"  in 1962.  Me, I did them in 2014!   My husband took the photo about 15 years ago, I decided it was time to use it for a watercolor.  Can you say A WHOLE LOT OF GREEN?   I actually did this watercolor with a different approach which helped since about 95 percent of the painting was green.  I usually paint all of one color pretty much at the same time.  I decided to paint one small section (one onion) at a time.  I was able to get the variation in the green this way, I did not start with a large amount of green ready to paint, but rather mixed the green for each onion individually.  That took a while longer, but it was a good experience.  Here's my green onions, Booker T's follows!

Painting is for sale in my Etsy Shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/181221436 

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

DON'T MISS BOOKER T

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDDKZ7PERDk

Little Woodpecker

 I usually paint larger birds, but I couldn't pass up this little guy.  My friend Dave took the photograph of this Downy Woodpecker.  The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America.  Sweet little guy!

This painting is available in my Etsy Shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/180958694

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Strength in the face of a storm

 According to legend, the ibis is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first to reappear once the storm has passed.  A bird that has the guts to hang in there when the going gets rough.  My friend Dave, the photographer, is strong like that too.  He is watching the storm of his life roll in, and is taking advantage of every minute before it hits.  He is working and playing and singing and smiling and loving and going and doing.   Here's hoping the coming hurricane never makes land! 

 

This painting is available in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/180690371

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

 

What...the flock?

No, we have not had a flock of blue herons fly in, and I am not giving up my seagulls.  I know I painted a blue heron just yesterday but I wanted to revisit him while it was fresh!  I like to paint the birds to my liking of course, usually making them more colorful, lighter or whatever it takes to make them sweet, happy or interesting to me.  Yesterday's blue heron was pretty to me.  That is important.   I think this guy is attractive as well, but I did give him a more realistic look.  I love the blue heron's eyes, so intense.   Hope you like him!

Blue Heron Day

It was a blue heron day.  Not the blue heron on the dock day, but photos of that bird becoming a painting day.  And that is not bad.  It's been a long winter, and I am looking forward to sitting on the patio days watching the lake birds.  This heron is brighter than the guy in the photo, but he looks summery, and that is what I needed today!  I hope you enjoy him.

this painting is available in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/179997741

 

 Betty 

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Composed

Composed definition, calm; tranquil; serene.  Such nice words.  Calm, tranquil, serene.  Who doesn't want that.  I don't fully understand it, but painting seagulls helps me stay composed.  True with most of my watercolor painting, but the seagulls always do it.  The quiet colors, the bird's demeanor, and the memories of peaceful time at the beach always equates to calm, tranquil and serene for me.  I can nearly hear the ocean rolling in, rolling out.  That calming constant that always seems to bring life into perspective.  With all of that said, I have to admit I used "Compose blue" for the background color in this piece and that is how he got his name.  But it did get me to thinking about what painting does for me, and that is good!

Painting is available in my Etsy Shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/179420246

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Movin' on

These long legs are movin' on, this guy looks like he has places to go.  I love painting the birds that I see on the lake that I live on here in Southern Illinois.  The lake is frozen right now, so I guess I am "movin' on" in my mind, looking toward warm weather again.  Blue skies and big birds, it's going to be a good one!  I included a picture of this guy in a 16 x 20 mat propped in my studio to give you a better idea of his size.

This painting is available in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/178735437/original-bird-painting-bird-art-egret

 

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Day 29 of 30 in 30 days "Picture Day"

Wow, day 29 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge!  This has been a good experience for me.  I sure appreciate the support and encouragement that I received along the way!  Thank you.  Today, "Picture Day", more of a bird portrait I would say.  This guy looks rather handsome posing for this shot.  My soft turquoise background and soft grays with an occasional spot of color keeps him calm and peaceful. 

This painting is available in my Etsy shop

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/177358781/original-bird-painting-bird-art-portrait

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Day 28 of 30 paintings in 30 days "Day Dreamer"

Well, it is day 28 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge that I am participating in through January.  I painted a new little friend today, "Day Dreamer".  This seagull was painted from a photo that I took at the sailboat marina near my home in Southern Illinois.  I think he looks like he is dreaming of where he might fly away to next.  Definitely mulling around some options in his mind.  I can relate.

 

This painting is for sale in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/177318059/original-bird-painting-bird-art-seagull

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing this little slice of my life

Day 27 of 30 in 30 days "Nodding Off"

This is day 27 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge through January.  Today, "Nodding Off".    I painted this little guy from a photo that I took at the sailboat marina near my home in Southern Illinos.  Of course there wasn't really a turquoise sky or water, but I like turquoise.   And I like to paint birds soft and sweet.  I like this little guy, hope you do too!

This painting is for sale in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/177231012/original-bird-painting-bird-art-seagull

 

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Day 25 of 30 in 30 days "Seagulls again"

Okay!  Day 25 of 30 paintings in 30 days.  "Seagulls again" today.  I like to paint seagulls.  Seagulls and the ocean just go hand in hand to me.  Even though I took this photo at the sailboat marina near my home in Southern Illinois, the seagulls took me a little closer to the ocean than Rend Lake!

This painting is available in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/176991091/original-bird-painting-bird-art-seagull

 

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing this little slice of my life

Day 23 of 30 in 30 days "Trumpeter"

This is day 23 of the Thirty paintings in 30 days through January challenge that I am participating in.  Yesterday my painting was "guests on the lake"  a number of huge swans like the ones I saw on the lake where I live.  Today, a single Trumpeter Swan.  These swans were just huge and regal, and honestly a sight to behold.   I hope you enjoy the paintings of the swans.

This painting is available in my Etsy Shop

 

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/176775004/original-bird-painting-bird-art-swan

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Day 22 of 30 in 30 "Guests on the Lake"

Day 22 of thirty paintings in 30 days through January.  Today "Guests on the Lake".  I got to see the Trumpeter Swans on Lake Benton.  I had heard that they were here, our guests.  I counted 13 of the huge birds gliding about with no concern for me.  It was a very moving experience.  I know they won't stay for long, they are just guests.

This painting is available in my Etsy Shop
 

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/176605399/original-bird-painting-bird-art-swans
 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Day 21 of 30 in 30 days "Lucky"

Today is #21 of 30 paintings in 30 days.  My painting for today is "Lucky".  Another seagull, and again, I feel lucky to be painting!  The white birds are just my favorites.  I saw the birds standing on the ice on the lake today, lots of them.  I hope to paint some of them this week!

This painting is available in my Etsy Shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/176489082/original-bird-painting-bird-art-seagull

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing this little slice of my life

 

Day 15 of 30 paintings in 30 days "still waters"

This is day 15 of the thirty paintings in 30 days challenge that I am doing through January.   Today, "still waters" this brown pelican is all alone, and I think he is quite satisfied.  I painted this from a photo my friend David took.  The reflections tell that the water was very still that day.  Looks like a peaceful place to hang out on a rock!  I love to paint birds, and I have another shot of a pelican that I intend to do very soon.  Thank you for following me as  I paint through January!

This painting is available in my Etsy Shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/175816615/original-bird-painting-bird-art-brown

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life

Day 14 Thirty paintings in 30 days "Give me the bird"

This is day 14 of 30 paintings in 30 days through January, a challenge I am participating in.  Today...Give me the bird!  I have struggled for several days with my paintings.  Painfully.  But today, my friend, David Walters sent me some photos of birds that he had taken.  He has a magnificent collection as he is an avid birdwatcher and photographer.  If you are familiar with my work you know I have painted several birds.  I don't really know why they work for me, but they do.  So, I was so thankful when these new subjects came along.  I don't know what this guy is,  but today, he is my friend!  Please consider this an open invitation to give me the bird, it will more than likely make my day!

Painting is available in my Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/175713401/original-bird-painting-bird-art

 

Betty

Thank you for sharing in this little slice of my life.