Live and Learn

I´d been thinking about doing a watercolour painting of a blue jay when last week I found a blue jay feather in my backyard. It was pretty much impossible to look at the feather without wanting to paint it, so I did a quick little watercolour... 

After the feather was done I started on the whole bird. I think this piece might turn out to be an elaborate preliminary because I´m not please with the composition. I misplaced the bird and now his tail feathers are getting smooshed into the edge of the picture frame. Hmm, so maybe the week your two year old has been sick and cranky and wearing you out a little is not the week to start a finicky new painting. When I´m doing a watercolour I don´t draw the outline of what I´m going to paint because I don´t what there to be any pencil lines in my painting, but this is one time when it may not have hurt to pencil in the bird before I started painting.

Dog Days of Summer

Phew, it's been a fun summer! I know it still is summer, but for my own part I'm feeling the need to buckle down and get things done, a feeling I associate with September and the return to school. I like that feeling-- it makes fall feel like a second spring in the sense that you're ready to start things afresh. The fact that the weather is starting to get a little cooler is also preparing me for the surety that summer has to end some time. And since I did some camping last week, my summer is feeling pretty complete. Although a trip to the zoo would really top it off nicely.

Something I'm looking forward to in September is the Grimsby Festival of Art which happens Sept 10. This will be my first year as an exhibitor at the GFA and between the beautiful setting and the throngs of people who come to admire and purchase art, I think it should be a good time. I'll write some more about the Festival and what I'll be doing there when the date gets a little closer.

In the meantime, here's a watercolour painting I did of two pet dogs that was commissioned as a gift for the owner who lives here in Hamilton. I'm pleased to say the painting was a gigantic hit! Because the gift was arranged as a surprise, there weren't many photographs to choose from for source material so I worked from one of the toughest photos I've used yet, see below...

Sketching in the Rain

Yaaaay, the chord that connects my camera to my computer arrived in the mail today! It was mistakenly left behind in British Columbia when we returned home. Now I can download the recent vacation photos I took and pictures of some of my artwork. As I think about it, the list of things to be thankful for is limitless. That was clear to me as I sat in my backyard this afternoon sketching birds and trees while Clarence napped. After something of a dry spell, there was a good long rain today in Hamilton. Sitting under a big sun umbrella on the deck, I was able to do some sketching and stay dry. Now that's what I call summer vacation. The birds looked happy too, as they cooled off in a light rain and snacked on some bird seed.

There's also a new little painting that I'd like to share but it will have to wait a few days since the piece is a commission that's intended as a gift for someone who hasn't received it yet. I had better not ruin any surprises!

p.s. What's something you're thankful for?