Cooper's Hawk completion.....

I was so happy to have my Cooper's Hawk to work on these past few days. The painting colors aren't so washed out as they appear in the photo. It's very gray today, and even in my studio with my lamp shining directly upon the painting, the flash was necessary. I'm not a good enough photographer to know how to override the flash! One more thing to learn!
I had a lot of fun painting the background brush, which is all old morning glory vines. I like to leave them all winter, as the old, dead vines attract all sorts of birds.....no doubt why this Cooper's Hawk likes to stake out the place!
I hope this bird returns for a visit. It's not completely full grown in this painting, and I've since learned the coloring will be altered slightly in the adult. I'm hoping to do more paintings like this in the future- oh how I wish I could capture some bluebirds in a photo. I never saw one until a few years ago- they seem to be more numerous in our area now. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Missouri Watercolor Society....

I was thrilled to find out that I have been accepted into the Missouri Watercolor Society's latest National Show. This acceptance means that I have been granted signature membership in the organization. To say that I'm thrilled is an understatement of vast proportions! To have something positive in all this mess is so helpful, and may make this honor even more meaningful.
We live approx. 1/4 to 1/2 mile from where the plane went down in Clarence Center, and we knew people on the plane. Our lives are forever changed by this, as is our tiny town- so reminiscent of the fictional Mayberry. The sound of the excavation trucks wakes us and shakes our home. We see the official cars everywhere- police, sheriff's, medical examiners, government, canine trucks, and others too numerous to mention. If it's midday, that means that media are encamped at just about every intersection, searching for something new to report upon. And they're back at 5, 6, and 11, too. We just hope that every day it will get easier, and that our town will once again be sunny, whether or not the weather cooperates.

Custom cycle completion!

My motorcycle, that I started on a warm summer day, is finally done. This was, by far, the most labor intensive painting I have ever done. The colors on this custom cycle are what compelled me to tackle this piece. Not often does one paint a motorcycle using colors like sap green, dragon's blood, and lemon yellow!

This was probably the motorcycle painting that was the most technically difficult to do, yet I think it was the most fun, in a way. The colors were a refreshing change, and it is a different motorcycle than the subject of my last couple paintings- that being my husband's Road King.

My Cooper's Hawk can now get some of my attention!