Bandit Series: Red-winged Blackbird

 

Bandit Series: Red-winged Blackbird, Oil on Panel, 8"x8"

Bandit Series: Red-winged Black Bird, A Work in Progress

 

Bandit Series: Red-winged Black Bird, Oil on Panel, 8"x8"

Today I worked both the ribbon, the head and a bit on the back.  I'm at that stage where the next session will allow me to strengthen the value contrasts. 

Bandit Series, A Work in Progress

 

Bandit Series: The Red-winged Black Bird

I'm always trying to think of some way to make the bird paintings more than just an ornithological work.Here I initially thought to have two birds holding a ribbon between them in their beaks.  Then, to have one holding the ribbon.  Finally, I decided the ribbon should be draped to create more movement.  My House Critic's first take was, "that looks like a worm."  (Hmmmm.  Thought for a future series.). This series will be called Bandit and include items a bird may have taken for nest building.  This guy will be very busy nest building as the bird is a highly polygynous species with as many as up 15 female mates. 

Mama's Purple Irises

 

Mama's Purple Irises, 2021, Oil on Panel, 8" x 8"

My mother loved purple, anything purple. The above painted irises are the descendants of her mother's many varieties of which my mother continued to propagate.  The purple were her favorite, and she sent me home to Massachusetts with a suitcase full of rhizomes dug out of her Arkansas garden.  Among the many that made the trip, I was lucky enough to have these purple.   

Fat Finch #2

Fat Finch #2021, Oil on Panel, 5"x5"

 

This is the second painting of my round friend here.  Finches can have great variety in their form.  They can be long and thin, round and plump, petite and delicate.  It all depends on how they pose.  

American Kestrel

American Kestrel, 2021, Oil on Panel, 5"x5"

 

I met this fellow at the Audubon sanctuary in Canton, MA.  They were hosting an event with Canon cameras.  We took a walk through the sanctuary grounds, and then witnessed birds brought in from a bird rescue group.  We were a small group and able to get close to the birds for photographing.  These were raptors that were injured beyond rehabilitation.  Most of the injuries were due to car hits.  The kestrel is a small falcon, 9-12 inches. This guy is a male identified by his slate blue wings and head. 

Night Visitor, 2021

Night Visitor, 2021, Oil on Panel, 12"x12"

 

A Tapestry, A Work in Progress

Eastern Screech Owl, Oil on Panel 10"x10"

I believe I've solved the problem of the branch on which the owl is perched.  It now seems to be attached to the tree in back.  I increased the texture of the tree on the right to see how far I should push that.  The original goal was to have the owl "emerge" from the tree as they do in real life.  But, as usual my tendency to slip into realism has taken some control.