Hootin' Anni's Day Trippin' : WoodDuck

I'd prefer to sketch with lead pencil of all art mediums...I can pick up my sketch pad and carry it with me when I get a notion to draw. Unlike a painting project that remains on the easel and I have to go back and forth to the library [our book room] and work in only the one area. But, I have used acrylic paints for painting once in a while. Here are some that are framed and hanging around the house. I apologize for some that look cropped, for a reason....the glass with the frame shows light reflections [or curtains, etc.] so, I had to stand at an angle to get a better perspective:

A sea turtle

A Wood Duck

A Cardinal

A Hummingbird

A Tri-colored Heron

A Brown Pelican [I've shown this as a header on my blogs before]

A Great Blue Heron

Besides acrylics and pencil, I've experimented in oil, oil pastels [I have a couple I've got ready to share here at a later time], and colored pencil. But, most often I grab my #5 lead pencil and sketch pad and draw.

Feb 9th is my birthday. I won't be blogging

First and foremost, I want to relay my deepest and heart felt thank you to all who have stopped by and left such endearing condolences for the loss in our family. Your thoughts and prayers lifted my spirits. I really, really found comfort with your kind words.

Now...I get back to regular blogging.

To recap, I began painting a couple of weeks ago; my most recent project. This is my created rainbow of colors..

I started with a sketch as seen here and then blending some colors for the background complexion to appear a bit 'swampy' on a hot summer's day. While I let the first step of painting dry overnight, I studied over and over the size, shape and feather colors of the wood duck, so I could have the 'model' etched on my brain to begin painting in the details.

By the way, this duck, I have only seen once in my lifetime...and that was decades ago when I lived in Colorado. Now, I am on a quest to find one in Texas. So far, no wood ducks have been photographed...but I keep hoping. Some day, I will spot one hidden in the reed grasses and sneak up on it before it flies off and get a photo to add to my bird photo collection. Some day!!! Working a bit on it here and there, while allowing certain areas of paint to dry before continuing to add more elements, the colors and shape of the duck began to form, revealing the duck I would like to see again in real time.

I know they are in south Texas; I've had emails from other birders telling me they have spotted them. In the meantime, I will have only this to remind me of my quest. When the painting was near complete, I added the minute details of feathers and markings and framed it. It's now part of my dining room wall of my other bird paintings of the Indigo Bunting, Cardinal, Tri-colored Heron, Brown Pelican, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, and Great Blue Heron.


"Silent Wings"

- - -

I'm always raring to go walking for the exercise and fresh air!! And check for...you know....those feathered beasties that sometimes elude my camera lens...
There are days when we're out with our binoculars but only a few birds, if any, are seen. That's when I begin looking at my surroundings. One day it may be the wonders of the sky...