Be still

Herons.  I catch glimpses of them everywhere I go and they've become sort of a mystical bird for me.  I love their patient stillness and awkward gracefulness in flight, the soothing colors and decorative feathers.  It's been a long time since I've painted one and this watercolor became a peaceful meditation for me as I deal with the loss of my beloved grey parrot, Niko.

Flowers for May, Creative Every Day

                                         Geocaching in Payson, AZ

Mule train

"Train" was an IF topic not too long ago that I did a sketch for but never colored.  I liked the little guys too much not to share.

Future for Illustration Friday

My son walked in, looked at the painting and asked, "What's the topic?"
"Future," I replied.
"Huh, doesn't look like the future.  Are there birds clocks in the future?"
I don't usually have to explain my work, but I actually put some thought into this one, so I pointed out  clockwise, half past and time moving forward, chicks and chickens, what we can see and what we can't see.  I was feeling pretty good about it.
"Oh, there should be cuckoo clocks with real cuckoos."  Maybe I tried too hard and should have stuck with a space train.

Illustration Friday: Wild

Her new style was a bit too wild for most of her friends.

Illustration Friday: Urban

Stuck in the juror assembly room all day, I sat in every part of the room, read from the two books I brought, worked on a German lesson, and in the last hour realized that the view fit the Illustration Friday theme.  I used a pen to sketch on the back of the map, then added watercolor pencil at home.

Eggs!

I had to get the ladder out today to get my parrot out of a tree, but that disturbed the curve billed thrasher nesting over the patio.  While she was gone, I took the opportunity to take a picture.  Maybe next year I'll mount a nest-cam.

April 11, 2013
Saw the mama bird fly out for more bugs and quickly set up the ladder.  They're here!

Egg for Illustration Friday

As I was working on the sketches for this, my daughter informed me that I was drawing a pixie, who must be the guardian of the spotted egg.  I enjoyed painting the poppies, and when I got to the lupines I remembered I used to paint flowers on pottery (in another lifetime).  The totally optional theme for Creative Every Day in March was "Color" and I think it was a good one for me.

Swim for Illustration Friday

 Swim said the Momma fishy, swim if you can, so they swam and they swam all over the dam.

Whisper for Illustration Friday

Better late than never. I threw away a lot of ideas and false starts before I got to this final painting, so I had to share. I rather like it!