Brown Creeper

It's been a while since I have done a Pen & Ink so this little guy took shape this afternoon.  Brown Creepers can be found year around but they often are overlooked any time of year because of their inconspicuous presence.  Their call is very high pitched and quiet, at times beyond the range of some humans.  They quietly go about the business of extracting insects from the cracks of the bark of trees, hitching themselves up and down the trunk in a spiraling manner, usually not disturbed by human presence.  They are never seen on the ground and their flight is fairly short as they move from tree to tree.  They usually build their nest behind a large piece of loose hanging bark about fifteen to twenty feet off the ground. 

4" x 6"  Pen & Ink on Arches Watercolor paper.            $50.00

For check payment or other payment arrangements email

birdartist@mindspring.com

Northern Pygmy Owl, framed.

I have now framed The Northern Pygmy Owl.  This is an 8" x 8" mixed media painting framed in an 11" x 14" frame with art on the mat.  It has been a while since I have done art on the mat and I am working on a series of Art on the Mat paintings so continue to check my blog.  This complete package is available for $195.  Difficult to photograph works under glass without reflection. You can see the unframed art in a previous post dated March 21, 2012.   Thanks for checking out my art.  Subscribe and receive updates.

For check payment or other payment arrangements email

birdartist@mindspring.com

Lewis's Woodpecker

With the completion of the Lewis's Woodpecker portrait, I have done all the species that are found in my home county of Deschutes in Oregon. This is the Lewis's Woodpecker, one of the larger woodpeckers.  These birds differ from most woodpeckers in that a majority of their food comes from flying insects so they are seen "flychatching" during the months of May through about October when they are present in Oregon.  Lewis's woodpecker was named by famed explorer Meriweather Lewis on that great exploration expedition back in 1803 and 1804.  In recent years in central Oregon, they have been somewhat in decline until a very successful nest box campaign was started by the East Cascade Bird Conservancy back in about 2006.  They were declining because their nest choice of dead pine snags were vigorously cleared to help deter forest fires.  The nest box project has worked very well and in any give year at least 85% have been occupied.

Mixed Media         4" x 4"      $75.00

For check payment or other payment arrangements email

birdartist@mindspring.com

Watercolor Canvas Board

I decided to experiment with a new surface today, Fredrix Watercolor Canvas Board.  I have done a couple watercolors on high plate illustration board over the years so thought this would be similar.  It is is some ways but there is a strange "absorption" quality to this canvas that is somewhat hard to control  The advantage of these smooth surfaces is that the paint sits on top and you can move it around freely but I found it strangely hard to get the paint to "settle" down once I reconstituted it.  One try is certainly not the final word but I am not happy with some aspects of this painting so I may try to go over it with Acrylic and see if I can produce an image I am more pleased with.  Stay tuned.

Anna's Hummingbird

Back in about 2004, a first year Anna's Hummingbird started showing up at a feeder in Central Ohio.  I did a painting of it for a certificate that was given by the Ohio Ornithological Society to the person who allowed hordes of birders on their property to view this lovely bird.  The original is for sale and is presented here for your viewing pleasure.

Original mixed media painting, 9" x 12"      $175.00

For check payment or other payment arrangements email

birdartist@mindspring.com

My Woodpeckers on Postage stamps

Zazzle.com is a web store that sells custom made items by artists.  They sell mugs, T shirts, US postage stamps and much much more.  Check out my current products at Zazzle.  http://www.zazzle.com/my/products/public?sr=250368246542082387

My Woodpecker images can be purchased on us postage, check them out.

Lady Slipper Orchid

My most recent painting is of a Lady Slipper. The Lady Slipper is an Orchid found in most of North America as well as parts of Europe and Asia. Growing up in Minnesota, I knew it as the state flower. I think this might be why it has been one of my favorite wild flowers. 

5" x 5"  Mixed media,  SOLD