What is cuter than a Chickadee? Chickadees are incredibly common, and I’ve sketched them dozens of times, but I’ve only painted them once. Their high-contrast coloration makes them a little trickier for watercolor. For the same reason it’s hard to get a good … Continued
This flamingo painting is based on photos I took at the fantastic Toledo Zoo. I’ve been going there for more than 20 years. My second trip there was probably the most memorable. I was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the time … Continued
Work really picked up for a while, so I fell behind with posting paintings and sketches. I have a back-log of sketches to scan and write up. This is a Tree Swallow from Ottawa NWR in northern Ohio. I can really … Continued
I suppose this is truly a Michigan painting, since it combines our state bird and state flower in one work of art. I really enjoyed working on this project. Robins are common enough to be overlooked by most people, but I try … Continued
Around our house we call this painting the “Birch Perch.” This one has a bit of a history. I like the painting, but every time I look at it I feel a little sick to my stomach. Why? Here’s the “Readers Digest” version of … Continued
Some birds just seem to have a lot of natural charm. The Eastern Phoebe definitely falls into that category for me. Phoebes, like American Robins, are fairly tolerant of humans and will nest near houses, sheds and decks. My mother-in-law, who … Continued
I really love these birds. There is just something hilarious about a cute little bird with those tiny devil horns! They had been begging to be painted for a long time. Finally they made it to the top of the list. … Continued