Completed in 2014

I realize that I have completely neglected my blog in 2014, so I am going to post a few recent works over the next few weeks. Here is one that I had posted some photos of earlier on in various stages of completion. This one sold pretty soon after going to ArtSource Fine Art in Raleigh, NC. I liked the softness of the nest on the left. In person, this nest had a sort of soft squishy quality to it. I hope that I was able to capture the cozy nature of this nest - and I liked adding in the smaller, spikier nest on the right! They're different in size, but I think they fit well together - sometimes opposites attract, right?

"Contemplation: Soul Mates"
oil on canvas, 11"x14"

SOLD

"Contemplation: Sanctuary"

This is another of the five paintings that I have in Grovewood Gallery's "Birds & Bees" exhibition in Asheville, NC. The show opens February 14, and continues through May 10. I figured that a nest certainly fits into the birds theme, and this one was a pleasure to paint. I liked working on the individual twigs and bits of pinestraw in the nest, and I also really enjoyed working on the colors of the background of the painting.

"Contemplation: Sanctuary"

oil on canvas, 11"x14"
SOLD

New nests in the works

Here is a photo of a two new nest paintings.   With the nest in the painting on the left, my eye fell for the intricacies of the bits of grass, sticks, and even small white horse hairs woven throughout.  I imagined the blue and beige patterned background, based very loosely on a geometrically printed fabric.

Nest in the Works

New painting in the works!

Well, I have begun work on three new nest paintings.  Perhaps I've been inspired by all of the bird activity around the property today - lately, I have seen Indigo Buntings, Kingfishers, Cardinals, Goldfinches, Rose Breasted Grossbeaks, and more!  There is a new nest on one of the logs on the porch, and I can't wait to see little babies soon!

Newly Finished

Contemplation: Little Tornado

oil on canvas, 14"x11"

Just finished this little painting from my Contemplations series the other day.  Another artist friend asked me the other day if I feel like I have gotten tired of my nests and small objects.   In a nutshell: no. ;)  I love painting these quiet canvases, and I don't know if I will ever tire of them. 

Two of a kind...

Contemplation: Kindred 

oil on canvas, 11"x14"

Late yesterday afternoon offered great light to photograph several new paintings.  Above is one of them, a small oil from my Contemplations series.   I feel such a sensation of security and warmth by these two small nests hugging so closely together.  

New Painting!

Contemplation: Quiet Nest

oil on canvas, 14"x11"

I like the moodiness of this painting.  It just came together that way, and I am very satisfied with it.  Silent nest, little fragile shelter.  It is remarkable to me that little squirming, clawed baby birds are held safe in such a fragile woven home.  The nest I used as the model for this painting is a perfect little cup that almost fits into the palm of your hand.  Round and small and delicate with a few twigs astray.

For purchase information, please email info@susannapantas.com

Bird's nest = sticks + ______________?

This new painting is titled "Contemplation: Woven Nest" and is an oil on canvas which measures 12"x16".  It is currently for sale through ArtSource Fine Art in Raleigh, NC.   The original nest actually had bits of bubble wrap amongst the sticks.  My attempts to paint the bubble wrap ended up looking like an octopus tentacle was woven into the nest - which wasn't the comforting bed for baby birds I was striving for - and thus I decided to omit it.    Thus.... no bubble wrap in this painting, but a charming little nest still the same :)

Contemplation: Woven Nest

oil on canvas, 12"x16"

SOLD

This painting is currently for sale through ArtSource Fine Art 

in Raleigh, NC.  Email sarah@artsourcefineart.com for purchase information

Bundles of twigs, horsehair, and bubble wrap = baby bird abode

Ah, winter.

Here are two in the works:

This painting, above, is the larger of the two paintings.  Woven within is actually a bit of bubble wrap amidst all of the pine tree twigs!

This second little nest includes a few strands of horse hair.

Pine needles, horsehair, and a few bits of fuzz make quite the welcoming bed for baby birds I'd say.

Contemplating the "Contemplations"....

I have been thinking about this new series I have been working on.   Inspired by small objects in nature,  I am going to call these small 8"x10" oil paintings my "Contemplations."  I enjoy getting lost in their beautiful details.

Here is the latest finished piece, of a moon snail:

Contemplation: Solitary Moon Snail

oil on canvas, 8"x10"

email info@susannapantas.com

for purchase info

One that is still in progress, of two Blue Jay feathers:

This drawing got me started on the entire new group of paintings:

This pencil drawing of my beloved small nest is only about 5"x5".   I remember drawing it late into the night last winter.   I enjoyed working on it so much that the memory of doing so has spurred me into starting the "Contemplations" paintings.

Just finished

Contemplation: Small Nest

oil on canvas, 8"x10"

email info@susannapantas.com 

if you are interested in purchasing

update: SOLD

This little oil painting, one of the first of my "Contemplations" series, is a study of the beautiful details that are found in small, unassuming objects.   I found this wonderfully shaped bird's nest, measuring only about 4" in diameter, along a shady path in the mountains in western North Carolina.  It had blown out of a tree.