That Marilyn Moment

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This was a fun little painting (which also allowed me to test out my new lighting rig). I love the enthusiastic singing of Song Sparrows in the spring. I also really like the contrast of the red dogwood against a steely spring sky.

If you'd like to see how this was painted you can see a time lapse video here.

The first of a new series of bird paintings I've been working on. "Summer?" features an early arriving tree swallow. I love these colourful little birds and its been fun working on some smaller, more immediate pieces after completing the BIG bear! 

The return of the robins to our yard every year mark a new and exciting round of activity for Charlie as he ferociously protects the perimeter from their deadly incursions! 

This little marsh wren appeared in one of the first ever colour pencil drawings I did. I was so fond of the subject I decided to return to it and have another go at "In the thicket". 

Sometimes a painting suggests itself to me. While I was looking through some reference photos of orchids that I had taken, this one reminded me of the colours of the beautiful Calliope Hummingbirds that would visit my feeders back in British Columbia. The combination seemed too good to pass on.

This nest in Ontario was full to bursting and the parents were working flat out to keep these four fed. I took the liberty of relocating them (in the painting) to my new hometown in Nova Scotia so I could use some wonderfully worn shingles as the backdrop.

Swallows mark for me the arrival of Fall the same way the returning Hummingbirds mark the arrival of spring. When they start to line up on the power lines (or more aesthetically pleasing Maple branches) it's a sure sign the season is on the turn.

This one was inspired by my love of traditional Japanese paintings, particularly the composition and colour palette.