Painting the Northern Cardinal

Painting the Northern Cardinal, 2020, Oil on Panel, 10" x 10"

I am uncertain of the final mood of this piece.  The background coolness vs the stark red of the cardinal and brush seems to create a studio portrait.  This makes me consider future pieces in which the bird is actually presented as an artist's model.  When I first considered using the paintbrush, it seemed a way of incorporating the idea of 'painting' into work that is based on realism.  

Narcissus in Progress

New start with a new idea is to present the birds as mythical characters yet keep them in a somewhat natural setting.  The American Goldfinch becomes narcissus in this first session.