Rosy-faced Lovebirds, ACEO Original Watercolor Painting

Guess I'm in the mood for Valentine's Day. The bird series takes a detour from winter birds with this colorful painting of two affectionate little parrots.

There are many kinds of lovebirds of different colors. What characterizes them is how much time they spend sitting close to each other and the fact that they remain a faithful pair for life. I love the way they nuzzle their heads together - so sweet.

This painting sold as soon as I listed it! So it's no longer available. But you can see more of my bird paintings in my Etsy shop: JanetZeh.Etsy.com. Thanks for stopping by today. Perhaps I'll have to paint more lovebirds...

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks Watercolor Painting ACEO

 

Two beautiful Grosbeaks share a tree on an early Spring day.

If you notice, there is no snow. We've been getting so much of it here, I decided it would be nice to get away from it for a bit and paint an early Spring scene. Though these birds occasionally show up at feeders in the winter months here, normally we see them in the warmer weather.

I've matted this original watercolor painting in a 5"x7" mat and protected it with a crystal clear sleeve so it's ready to display as is or in a 5"x7" frame.

You can see larger pictures and purchase Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in my Etsy shop, JanetZeh.Etsy.com.

Do you see Rose-breasted Grosbeaks where you are?

Snow Birds (Northern Juncos) in the Snow - Watercolor ACEO

 

You know, around these parts, people who go South for the winter, generally to Florida, are referred to as "Snow Birds". I could never understand this appellation, because the actual Snowbirds, or Northern Juncos, stay here year round. My bird book tells me they winter to Mexico, so it must be that with bird feeders so generously supplied by all us bird lovers, they have adapted to the cold!

At any rate, here are a couple of Snowbirds who did not care to make the trip to Florida and points South. We'll call them Jack and Jill Junco. They are braving the subzero temps we are having this year and the deep and getting-deeper-all-the-time snow. Jill is on the left having just eaten a yummy seed, and Jack is on the right with one in his mouth. I'll keep my bird feeder filled to make sure this pair makes it through the winter just fine!

The original painting has been sold. But this is available as a print in my Fine Art Prints shop here: Snowbirds print.

Barred Owl and the Midnight Sky Original Watercolor ACEO

Today is owl day since I've posted two owls today. Perhaps it's the frigid cold nights we have been having that are making me think of owls out there hunting in the dark.
The barred owl is one I hear often when the weather is warmer and the windows are open at night. It has a distinctive series of hoots that end with a downward AW sound.
This large owl is also distinctive because of its deep brown eyes. Most owls have yellow eyes.
I've painted this owl against a midnight sky full of stars. You can see the sky part of the painting in the video demo below.

The original is sold, but you can get a print of it in my Fine Art Prints shop here: Barred Owl print.

Screech Owl and the Full Moon Watercolor Painting

 

A little screech owl sits on a snowy tree limb silhouetted by the full moon.

Several people have told me owls are a favorite bird of theirs.  I imagine for every one who says so, there are a number of others who also like them - they're just not sayin'!
The screech owl of North America has two color phases: red-brown and gray. I painted this one in the reddish phase (since I like color). It's rather spooky to hear screech owls at night because they give out a mournful wail. Have you heard them?

See this or others of my bird paintings in my Etsy shop: Zehland.Etsy.com. Thanks for stopping by today!

Deep Snow!

 

This poor blue jay looks like he's half buried in the snow. This is a photo I took out my studio window.  The jay is actually under the bird feeder. The recent snow has been so fluffy that the birds have packed it down. It makes a fun picture, don't you think?

Now you know why I've been painting the bird series. I can see them at the feeder from my easel and they are very inspiring!

White-breasted Nuthatch Original Watercolor ACEO

Continuing the watercolor bird series, here we have a little nuthatch on a snowy tree. Nuthatches run up and down trees looking for insects in the bark with their strong woodpecker-like bills. They are interesting birds because they will go down the tree headfirst, have you noticed this?
They'll also eat seeds, so they do visit feeders. There are three varieties in North America. In New England, we have the white-breasted bird pictured here and also the smaller red-breasted nuthatch.
If you live in the Southeast U.S., you may have seen the brown-headed nuthatch.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a lovely day!

A Winter Day - Oil Painting on Canvas Demonstration

This is the story of a painting that almost did not happen. Most of the time, I have more ideas than I can ever paint. I don't know if it was the bleakness of winter or the post holiday let-down, but I was singularly not inspired to do a January landscape painting in oil on canvas no matter how much I WANTED to do one.
I spent hours walking through the countryside looking for inspiration. I took photos and rummaged through all the pictures I had taken throughout the years.  Finally, in desperation, I picked out a photo of an interesting tree in the snow and, putting myself in front of a canvas, picked up a pencil to draw a scene. Sometimes that is the best way to do things. I believe that if I just put myself in front of a project, things will happen. I just have to show up.
And so this is the story of "Winter Day". After I began the painting, we had a major snowstorm - 22 inches of the stuff. That, along with the birds at the feeder outside my window, helped with the inspiration!

White-throated Sparrows watercolor painting

The burning bush outside my kitchen door is flaming red in autumn. Once it loses its leaves, bright red berries can be seen that must taste delicious to these little sparrows once the cold winter sets in.
I'll spot them sitting in the bush eating berries throughout the day. They come back every day until the berries are gone.
This year, I've also noticed juncos eating the berries, so it appears they have some competition.
In this painting, two white-throated sparrows sit on snowy branches surrounded by yummy berries.
 ~Thanks for stopping by. If you have snow where you are, I hope you can enjoy it! Check my Etsy shop: JanetZeh.Etsy.com for more small paintings.

Downy Woodpecker Original Watercolor Painting

The bird series continues with a little woodpecker suggested by several people. I did not know the Downy was so popular!
But it's not surprising, after all. They are really sweet little birds.

The Downy Woodpecker looks like a smaller cousin of the hairy woodpecker which has the same markings, but is larger and has a large bill compared to the Downy's small bill. These two are the only woodpeckers with a white back. The female is identified by the lack of a red patch at the back of her head.

Downy woodpeckers appear occasionally at my bird feeder. Their habitat includes forests and woodlands, river groves and shade trees all of which we have in abundance here.

Thanks for stopping by today to check out our latest bird! If you have any suggestions for bird paintings, please let me know.
You can check my Etsy shop for more small paintings: http://JanetZeh.etsy.com.

"A New Day" Bluebird at Sunrise Watercolor Painting

A wonderful dream story inspired this painting. I've been asking for suggestions for my bird series on Facebook as well as here.
One person wrote that many years ago, she had a dream that a bluebird was flying over her right shoulder as she walked down a street. She said it marked a turning point in her life. Ever since, bluebirds have been her favorite bird.
Bluebirds are a symbol of happiness and good fortune. It's appropriate that a bluebird should mark a new beginning. So I've painted this piece with the glow of dawn just coming up, turning the sky a soft pink hue and named it "A New Day."

The original painting is sold, but contact me if you would like a print or a painting done just for you.

 Thanks for stopping by today.

Blue Jays - original watercolor painting ACEO

 

Two Blue Jays, sit in my crabapple tree on a snowy morning. The crabapples are tart and frozen, but the birds still appreciate them when food is scarce. More snow is expected for the next couple of days, so I've made sure the feeder is filled too.

Thanks for all the suggestions coming in here and on Facebook for birds to paint and you'll be seeing them posted as they're completed.
This one is 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches in a 5"x7" mat. You can see close-up images in my Etsy listing: Blue Jays in a Snowy Crabapple Tree.

Thanks for stopping by and if you're in a snowy or cold locale, stay warm!

Northern Cardinals in Winter - watercolor painting

A male and female cardinal share a tree on a winter day. I love seeing these birds against the snow, they brighten up the landscape!

It looks like a series of small bird paintings is beginning to take shape. I have a number of 5"x7" white mats with a black inner border and they look great with these small paintings. I'm open to suggestions for birds to paint!

You can find Cardinals in Winter in my Etsy shop, JanetZeh.Etsy.com.

Thanks for stopping by~

Black-capped Chickadees in the Snow - watercolor painting

 

It's been a while since I've done small daily paintings and I couldn't resist beginning them again. 

Here is my first one for 2011 inspired by a couple of sweet little chickadees outside my studio window.  They appreciate the black oil sunflower seeds in the birdfeeder. I don't think they eat anything else. They'll pick through the seeds until they find one, then fly off to a branch to peck it open, eat the meat, then wait for their turn to get back to the feeder again.

This little painting is sold, but you can check for others in my Etsy shop, JanetZeh.Etsy.com

Have a lovely day!

Buster and Rex - finishing the pet portrait painting

Originally, I was going to post this part yesterday, but New Year's somehow got in the way. I hope you had a happy New Year's celebration. I am looking forward to the coming year!
OK, now that Rex is painted in, it's time to start on Buster. Buster is an energetic dog who loves to chase his orange ball outdoors. Even though the ball will not be in the portrait since it's a close-up, it will be somewhere. Guess where? In his master's hand.
I've chosen a pose for Buster that has a focused look on his face as if he's just waiting for someone to throw that ball!