Tuesday, December 31, 2024

DUSK AT BEAVER LAKE

 




The end of another beautiful day looking across Beaver Lake as the sun slowly slips below the horizon. A fitting subject now as 2024 comes to an end as well. Thank you to viewers from all over the world who visited my blog during the year, wishing you all the very best for 2025. This oil on board is 8 x 12 inches.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

EARLY EVENING CLOUD STUDY

 


This scene attracted me during a late afternoon of clouds, rain and sun. When the storm had drifted out over the sea, the dampened landscape came alive with colors especially when this stream reflected the clearing sky. I like the way the water draws the viewer into the painting and this study was done quite loosely, and with the possibility in mind of perhaps a larger version. Size is yet another 8 x 10 inches, oil on board.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

ALASKAN EAGLES - STUDY

 


Yet another small painting that developed from studies and ideas captured during our Alaskan trip. During a separate boat trip, we sailed into watery caverns filled with scenes like this. During the morning, mist predominated and the distant land was hazy, diffuse. Low-lying clouds hung in the air while the surrounding shores and densely wooded hillsides created an ethereal feeling. There were a few whales about but not a lot of eagles - we saw around 20 or so along with a few Ravens, and a huge flock of hundreds of crows! The size of this smaller work is 8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

LAUGHING GULL STUDIES II

 


Here are a two studies of resting Laughing Gulls. In winter, they look quite a lot different from their summer (breeding) plumage mostly as they have lost the dark chocolate brown color on their heads. Also the bright red bill has darkened to black although some birds still have remnants of red. Still, I enjoy the mottled pattern of dark on the heads which varies from bird to bird. Here this bird is not very heavily marked.




This sleeping bird was part of a larger flock that I singled out to paint. I liked the subtle shadow on the breast which warmed and deepened as it crept under the belly. Also the shadow as it undulated over the uneven surface of the sand. Although it was a sunny day, all of them were facing into the cool stiff breeze - most birds do this. Both these watercolor studies were done in my sketchbook, sizes are about 6 x 9 inches.

Saturday, November 30, 2024

APROACHING DAWN - WHITE-TAILED DEER

 



It was still dark when I slipped outside and into the quiet of a pre-dawn morning. In the nearby reserve, I stood as a hurried flight of ducks passed overhead and splashed down then began feeding in the shallows. A few Song Sparrows called followed by the sweet drawn-out song of a White-throated Sparrow. I walked a little further along and stopped as a small herd of deer slowly approached. I think in the gathering light, they couldn't quite make me out. One braver than the others (probably the matriarch) came closer looking at me from one side to the other then took a few more steps even closer! As I stood stock still gazing in wonder, they eventually turned and drifted silently away until I was alone again.

In this painting, I wanted to try and capture the wonderful experience of that morning placing the deer as it was on that day slowly turning away and soon to be gone. Size is 9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas board.

Monday, November 18, 2024

APLOMADO FALCON, PART 2

 


After working on the bird during the past week, I finally reached this point where I think it is about completed. I'll put it aside for a while then come back in another week or so and look at the painting with fresh eyes seeing if it needs anything else done to it. This was a new bird for me, one I haven't yet seen in the wild - apparently they are rare in the US. Still, getting close to this one was quite an experience which was magnified when seeing it in flight diving to a lure - simply wonderful to watch! Size is about 11 x 7.5 inches, watercolor on Arches paper.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

APLOMADO FALCON, PART 1

 


I came across this partially-completed portrait of an Aplomado Falcon a few days ago so took it over to my watercolor table to get a better look at it. Although started some time ago, I usually have a few paintings on the go at any one time - most of them are well on their way just like this one and I could see that I wouldn't have too much to do to finish it. I began by laying in more washes of color onto the back and wing areas trying to get that looking right - obviously I still have some way to go there! Most of the head and breast had already been done so there were only a few bits there that needed any touch ups. Hopefully this one will be brought to completion in the next week or so, part 2 coming soon!