Two More Birds
These two latest birds- a Steller’s Jay (featured image) and a Cedar Waxwing (below) – will bring my latest series of 8 bird portraits to a pause, at least for a little while. In total, the number of bird paintings I’ve made is about 25. It’s an interest of mine that will likely result in more when something catches my eye. I’d love to paint a Cardinal- or a pair- but since they don’t live where I do, I will have to rely on one of my East Coast photographer pals to let me use a photo as a reference.
About these two paintings:
“Ready to Fly”
The Steller’s Jay is a cousin of the more flamboyant Eastern Blue Jay, with a similar boisterous call and penchant for tormenting squirrels.
“Fancy”
Cedar Waxwings can apparently be found all over the U.S, but I never saw one on long Island. I do see them here in Washington State. I have learned to recognize their lovely trilling call.
Both paintings are 8″ x 10″ oil on board.
Next up, I have a still life on the easel, the under-drawing complete and ready for the first application of paint- maybe even today.
02/04/2024 @ 7:07 am
You’re turning into a bird girl, said another bird girl. I always find that I fall in love with whoever it is I’m working on.
Yesterday I was stopped by a tree with at least two dozen robins in it. They were making their robin calls, a few looked down at me staring at them, but did not fly off. We never used to have robins in February, much less a large mob. I loved seeing them, but it was also weird.
I wish I could work as quickly as you. Today will be hour 87 on the foot competition, drawing frog camouflage like it’s a persian rug.
02/04/2024 @ 1:46 pm
Yes…I am a bird girl. And happy to be a member of that lovely and talented group!
I wish I had your patience for detail.
02/04/2024 @ 3:01 pm
Lol! Continue painting birds, and you’ll turn into an OCD detailer too–that’s how it begins 😆
02/04/2024 @ 9:10 am
Fellow bird girl again, with something to share.
Big Brother algorithms have me figured out. Yesterday, I got an email from Ace Hardware that a ‘smart’ bird feeder called The Bird Buddy is on sale for $179.00. Since I never heard of ‘smart’ bird feeders, I clicked the link like a dog.
Report: the feeder works on an app and does the following:
takes close-up photos and videos of every bird that visits
identifies each bird that comes to visit
send you notifications of each visit
has a squirrel alarm
the squirrel alarm also sends a notification
the squirrel alarm allows you to yell at squirrel through your phone to scare it (lol, like that will ever happen)
sends your bird photos/vids to people on your contact list
So at least I know there are people out there crazier than I am.
Although, I admit to being tempted for about five minutes.
02/04/2024 @ 1:47 pm
Window shopping is fun! And now, you should see lots of ads etc for birdy things.
02/04/2024 @ 2:57 pm
Rose, the day I found myself yelling a squirrel through my phone while sitting in my dentists waiting room, would be the day they would send me to the home!
02/04/2024 @ 10:16 am
The Steller’s Jay is a favorite of mine. Often called “camp robbers”, I find them to be quite social and not the pests their nickname indicates. It could be the suet I hang from tree branches at camping places. We find them at the coast and in central state. Four or five of them will gather and attempt to out-screech each other, hopping up to me and hoping for extra attention. Have you ever seen them sploot in hot weather? It’s a phenomenal display when they spread their wings and tail feathers.
02/04/2024 @ 1:49 pm
Hello Mister Stone!
Steller’s Jays are one of my favorites, too. Not being a native of the pnw, I don’t know their nickname. Do tell!
02/04/2024 @ 2:54 pm
The winter I spent in N.CA, I saw more Stellar’s jays than I see blue jays here. One time I was trying to snooze in a hammock, and a Stellar’s jay sat on the end of it and screeched at me, not a general screech, definitely aimed at me. I’m guessing he considered that his nap spot. Jays are total bad asses, corvids, same family as crows, very smart, very bossy.
02/04/2024 @ 3:53 pm
Eagles ‘&’ doves what are we but thoughts of love
paraphrase too swoon I lapse symbiotic still somnambulistic as feral black cat stalks pads upon sill (inner sanctum) our painted parrot as one small step Jimmy Steward eyes … as though my still born blue brother … Jonas …! dad wept cuddling my-O-my lost twin yet out-on-a-limb as Leon Russel’s audio-VISION: BLUEBIRD
02/06/2024 @ 4:30 pm
Dear Rose,
Are you really in Spanish Harlem?
VTY
JPH
03/15/2024 @ 4:22 pm
Sorry for the late reply. I’ve been swallowed up by gallery shenanigans, college class (over today! Woohoo!) artmaking, a horrible cold, and general life stuff.
I was in Spanish Harlem only once, by accident. 1972, I was about 17, took my little brother (age 11) to the Museum of Natural History, and got on a wrong subway trying to get back to Penn Station. It was fine, though. We found our way back.
Another post here coming pretty soon, I think.
03/15/2024 @ 5:46 pm
Several other Jacks and I did MKE to [Here are the 10 books that are commonly required in English Department doctoral programs:BARD] s/r read: LGA-LaGuardia Airport student stand by for $50 round ‘n round trip and spent a fortnight on Times SQ at the Pickwick Hotel. Wow cowabunga precious and few I remember playing Bobby Vinton on that jukebox in Greenwich Village & gratis pizza whoa those walking cover girls on Madison Ave. Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs! No. The cabbie sd ‘sorry…I am not going to Harlem …!’ Decades later the children toured the World Trade Center. Along the way with their beaming farm-kid-smiles they gave me a palm full of minute ceramic animals that or which yet frolic in my COPACABANA ashtray {…} Rose, let me get out of this box before I take any more of this ‘lost within space’ time tapping about my vagabond shoe shine outside the Peppermint Lounge {…} O yeah plenty of light ~NOW~ Rosie: you by all means have an excellent dayXday tY!