Dories in Progress

Three Dories

I've adjusted the water color to more of a blue hue.  Still a long way to go.  

Black-Chinned Hummingbird in Progress

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

This entire session was spent on the cup.  White! So much trouble!  Also, the hummingbird will need some real punch to distinguish it.  What is more important?  The cup?  The bird?

Dories and Narcissus in Progress

Dories

Narcissus

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.  

Hummingbird in Progress

The work today was tedious and slow as I went after the cup.  The subtleties in the forward edge of the saucer create a problem with the point of view. I will need go increase the contrast between that fluted edge and the bottom of the saucer so the cup and saucer appear to be in the same perspectival plane.  It's slow going with white.

Dories and a Bluebird in Progress

I think maybe one more session with the bluebird.  Things need to be a little more chromatic to pop off that very active ground.

Painting the Bluebird

Dories

Cardinal and Hummingbird in Progress

Painting the Northern Cardinal, Session #3

The Cardinal session was spent refining the paint brush and roughing in the feet.  

Black Chinned Hummingbird, Session #4

The Hummingbird session was used to glaze the saucer reflection.  This will require a few more sessions.