Drawing birds out my back window at the feeder this am. Not many cardinals but a wren that hangs around eating suet and chirping away in the Rose bushes, chickadees and tufted titmice diving in for seeds and those pesky red finches. Red finches an invasive species have run the beautiful purple finch out of this area.
I tried to draw these in as few pen strokes as possible. Looking at the birds as they landed. Thank goodness the wren hung around. Such cute little fat things.
Colors- Burnt Sienna, the greys were made with Daniel Smith Primateks purple hematite and piemonite with cobalt or ultramarine. That combo makes such a yummy grey. The Daniel Smith Primateks are wonderful because they granulate as they dry adding nuances of color. In case you haven’t guessed I can’t get enough color!! 😃
Black was made with burnt umber and ultramarine blue.
Shadows cerulean and burnt umber. Then I went back in with the Piemonite and purple hematite mixes to grey them some more.
Soupy American Journey Orange for the background.
Yesterday when we left life drawing the tree near the parking lot was loaded with cedar waxwings gobbling berries. Instantly I knew what they were because as a child they would descend on our bushes and gobble outside the kitchen windows. And I can hear mom saying the cedar waxwings are back. What a racket they can make.
I also looked them up to write the left hand page. Then I remembered sitting in class in third and fourth grade entertaining myself making bird books from some little bird guides someone had given me. Those involved notebook paper and pencil sketches. I guess I have come full circle!!
Colors New Gamboge and virisian to make that Limey yellow. New gamboge is such a bright clear gold. Once again the greys were made with purple hematite and piemonite with cobalt or ultramarine.
Those Daniel Smith granulation colors!! You guessed it!! The greys were made with purple hematite and piemonite with cobalt or ultramarine.
Here are the greys with purple hematite and piemonite with cobalt or ultramarine on my pallette done. Great colors I think!!
Somebody asked me how I splatters so I took a pic of the cedar wax wing prepared for splattering. I used a soupy mix of cerulean and yellow ochre. Remember that paint will also go allover your table. So cover it up unless you want speckles.
Thanks for looking!!
Maggie…I love, love, so totally love seeing you work on colors for your birds..My days are filled with watching and sketching the birds who travel the Clark Fork River flyway…you have done a masterful job in identifying the colors…Big smile of appreciation for tha post today.
Kristin
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Thanks so much Kristin. They are a constant source of entertainment!! Great fun to paint too!! Where is the Clark River?
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Great post! Thanks for sharing your choice of colors and your technic.
I enjoy looking at all your little birds, give me the impression that I am in the country not in a big city like Montreal!
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Thanks Martine. I am on the edge of the second largest city in Georgia. actoss the river from us. There are days i feel like in live in a wild life zoo.
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The Clark Fork River flows through Montana..I live in Missoula on the West Slope of the Rockies….
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That must be a gorgeous place to live!!
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