Make Me Smile

Make Me Smile

2.5" by 3.5"

A small whimsical painting, an Artist Trading Card, the mediums used on this are watercolor and ink on cold pressed 140 lb watercolor paper. It is an imaginary portrait and is one of a kind.

Where do birds go when they die?




Several months ago on my daily walk,
the bird was by the curb as though it had just laid down to rest.  I have
a feeling it had been injured by a passing car on the
busy street beside the parking lot.

 

The thought has occured to me at different times in my life, where did birds go when they died?  I had never seen a dead bird fall from the sky.  I wondered if I was the only one who had ever wondered this, thanks to Google, I know I join the ranks of many others who have had similar thoughts and questions.

I read it is the opinion of "bird experts" that birds sometimes roost in trees when they are feeling sickly.  They seek out secluded places where hopefully they won't be discovered by prey.  I also read that sick woodpeckers crawl into tree holes.

A sick or injured bird is often discovered by predators, that accounts for there not being many found on the ground.  As a result of the bird's light body mass, their bodies decompose quickly.

I feel now I have a better understanding of where birds go when they die.

Harsh Reality ... portrait of a woman

She had a good heart but ...

The title of Harsh Reality kept coming to me as a title for this woman's portrait.  Of course, an imaginary portrait of mine. It measures 5" by 6" and the mediums used on yupo paper are watercolor, ink, graphite and china marker.

In an attempt to paint some in a different method, this was my first time painting on yupo paper.

Those Haunting Stage Eyes

Those dark and haunting eyes from the stage pierced

even those sitting on the back row.

Can you imagine being face to face?

 

This painting done on yupo paper measures 3.75" by 7.25 ".

"Show Time" ACEO Portrait

This watercolor and ink portrait, 2.5" by 3.5", is painted on watercolor paper.  An artist trading card, it is also known as an ACEO.  It is original and one of a kind, it is not a print.

It looks like the show is about to begin!

Midnight Stroll



Midnight Stroll

A whimsical little watercolor, pen and ink, 2.5" x 3.5", known as an artist trading card.

A quick painting in my attempt to "loosen" up after doing some recent intense portrait commissions.



My Magical Art Case

My antique art case, one of my favorite things!
I left the portrait there, it came with the box.

(Please double click to enlarge images)

Why is it things seem to quickly escalate right around Thanksgiving?  By "things" I mean commitments, work, social events, shopping, Christmas preparations, just life in general.  This time period between Thanksgiving and New Years Day will soon be a past blur.  What I'm truly getting at is I have not posted anything new on this blog in a long time.  I have been working on some portrait commissions and it was time to drag out a treasure of mine.

Some of the treasures found inside!

The label from one wooden box of pastels ...

This treasure is my "art box", I think officially it is called an art case.  The lid locks on with wing nuts and I fell in love with this old wooden box the minute I laid eyes on it in an antique store about thirteen years ago.  It is from England and was full of different art supplies but my favorite things were these boxes of old pastels.  I know they were a jumbled mess with many colors used and gone, but oh so charming.  I imagine this belonged to an art student many years ago. The portrait shown tacked to the inside of the box is still there.  I haven't had to heart to remove it, I just like the idea of someone long ago taking the time to paint it.  So, I have just left it there as I found it.

Whoever heard of "witch" pens?

I had not heard of them until I opened this wonderful box.

As you can tell, I have used them.