Monarchs

Monarch butterflies are facing serious problems due to a loss of their food, the humble milkweed, and their habitat.

I found a dead monarch butterfly a few weeks ago during a walk and thought I would try my best to capture the way light shimmers through their wings. I have heard people compare their wings to stained glass windows.  So, with that introduction, here is a new painting of a monarch butterfly, fresh off the easel -

"Contemplation: Monarch"

oil on canvas, 11"x14"

For those interested, you can learn about the concerns of habitat loss and what you can do to help (hint: PLANT milkweed!) by visiting these websites:

• http://www.fws.gov/savethemonarch/
• http://www.saveourmonarchs.org/

This painting is currently for sale at ArtSource Fine Art in Raleigh, NC. 919-787-9533

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

"Birds & Bees" Invitational Exhibition - Asheville, NC

I was recently invited to participate in a group show at Grovewood Gallery in Asheville, North Carolina, titled "Birds & Bees." The show opens 2-14-15 (Valentine's Day). In keeping with the theme, here are two paintings that I have sent to be a part of the show -

 "Contemplation: Brown Thrasher"

oil on canvas, 11"x14"

This (above) is one of my favorite birds that I frequently see around Western North Carolina. The Brown Thrasher has such personality and I LOVE the speckled breast. You can find them scratching around on the ground a lot of times in the underbrush. They have striking yellow eyes, also.

"Contemplation: Rose Breasted Trio"

oil on canvas, 11"x14

I had been paying attention to the birds in my neighborhood for quite a while before I ever saw one of these beautiful Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks. The three featured in this painting are males. The first time I saw one, I remember being struck by his milky beige beak, which contrasted the black, red, and white in a very pleasing way (in my opinion!).

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.

Reworking a painting

Tonight, I decided to rework one of my paintings of a cow in a field.  This painting originally had a more turquoise sky and a cooler green hue to the grass.  Perhaps it is the time of year, but I wanted to brown some of the grass and mute the sky. I think I'm happy with how the painting is coming along.  The photo above is a bit blurry, but you can still see the colors. 

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!

8 Paintings Delivered to ArtSource in Raleigh

I have still been hard at work painting, recently delivering 8 paintings to ArtSource Fine Art in Raleigh, NC.  If you're in the area around North Hills, please do stop by and check them out.

The group waiting to be shipped!