Cooper's Hawk...

This absolutely beautiful Cooper's Hawk landed on top of the birdhouse right outside my kitchen window. It was one of those times where you say....just let me get my camera! It sat there so proudly, for quite a long time, while I was able to get some photos from inside my kitchen. I really didn't think my photos would turn out so well. I hadn't planned on doing a hawk after my

latest motorcycle painting was completed, but when this bird parked itself right outside.....it was like it was begging to be a subject of a painting! I'm not a bird expert, so I sent the photo of the hawk to the Buffalo News' nature columnist. He identified it as a Cooper's Hawk- and added it was not fully grown! I hope it returns to my yard as an adult!

I started off with a pencil drawing directly onto my paper. Then I used friskit on some of the withered morning glory vines, so that I could freely place the dark values on the lower part of the painting. I'm using french ultramarine, burnt sienna, and sepia for much of the hawk. This morning I noticed this hawk perched in a tree far back on our property. I hope he comes back for a visit...my camera's ready!

Buffalo Society of Artists Open Studio at my house

A cold and snowy January day was the setting for my open studio visit. I was so happy that so many members chose to come out on the bitter cold day! We Buffalonains are a hearty breed!

The photo on the right shows me on the right with members Todd Chalk, left, and Norine Spurling looking at my latest motorcycle painting. The Buffalo Society of Artists is comprised of artists working in all media, so these studio visits are a way to see how artists work in all varieties of media. It's fun to get ideas for our own studios when we see what other artists have chosen for their own workspaces.

On the left here is a shot of more members crowded into my studio. Former BSA president Gary Wolfe's back is to the camera, and he's greeting Todd, former president Coni Minneci, Norine is behind them. On the right our treasurer Helen Russell is smiling while Beth Pederson and Priscilla Bowen greet each other. I'm in the back with Nita Easter talking about my "Mid-Life Crisis."
On the right, Helen, Gail Bille, Priscilla, Beth, Gary, and Norine are all in our family room. I have my artwork all over the house, so one benefit of hosting an open studio visit is that it forces you to clean the whole house!! Now it should be good for a little while....after a busy week we both need to kick back a bit!

All in all it was a lot of fun, and I hope everyone had a great time.

The new Burchfield Penney.....

We finally made a trip to see the new Burchfield Penney art gallery. What a stunningly beautiful place! We went on Sunday, the last day of the "holidays" and it was a perfect time to go. I was thrilled to see Charles Burchfield's studio preserved, shown here on the left. Artists always like to see other artists' studios. The gallery has a great collection of his works; it's nice to see watercolors given the place of honor they so rightly deserve.

The layout of the gallery is lovely. The view from the second story down below is shown in the photo on the right. It's wonderful that this gallery will focus upon Western New York artists. I loved getting to see pieces from fellow members of the Buffalo Society of Artists.

All in all, this is a spectacular addition to the Buffalo landscape and will be such a welcome addition to the artistic community.