Wednesday, February 07, 2007

The Bluebird of ...Happiness?

... I know that's the way the saying goes, but this guy is grumpy at being disturbed! I just finished this painting yesterday. I guesstimate it took me 12 hours total. It's different from my previous birds, in that the background has more form. (Oh, I have a better scan of my goldfinch now, if you'd like to see.)I meant to make the upper branches "out of focus" - does it look right to you? I wanted only the bird and its perch to be crisp, the rest indistinct. I was thinking of adding text in some way, but with the busyness of the branches and leaves, I left it without. I have posted 2 of my "process" photos, too. In the first, I have done the background twice. In the second, I have started laying in the color in the bird and branches.
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Bluebirds are my gramma's favorites. She has several bluebird houses on her farm and keeps close tabs on the families' comings and goings. I helped her hang a new one that my nephew made when I visited last fall.

I'm really excited about these bird paintings! I've started a little chickadee and am planning a hummingbird now!

Acrylic paint on 5" x 7" stretched canvas. The image extends over the sides. Click on the image to see it enlarged.






2 comments:

laura capello said...

but he's a cute grumpy gus!

Debbie said...

I'd love to be able to paint like that! And birds are a beautiful subject. Well done. I think the way you blurred the branches looks nice.