Malachite Butterfly Pencil Sketch p90
Pennsylvania’s Hershey Gardens has a great butterfly house. I took a ton of photos there while visiting my brothers and mother last year. It was roasting hot but definitely worth it!
Tan Jumping Spider
Tan Jumping Spider (Platycryptus undatus) I love these curious little jumping spiders! I’ve painted many different types in the past, but this is new to the collection. The Tan Jumper is one of the more common species found in Michigan. Globally … Continued
Early Eastern (Rufous-sided) Towhee Transparent Watercolor and Time-lapse
This painting of an Eastern Towhee is a little unusual. Snow isn’t the first thing I normally associate with this species. For a number of years a male towhee would show up in our yard a few weeks before I’d see … Continued
Gray Treefrog Pencil Sketch p89
Gray Treefrogs frequent our yard. Hearing their call always puts a smile on my face. These frogs like selecting protected areas to hide during the day. A favorite spot is the space between the top of our shed door and the drip cap … Continued
Fox Sparrow and Frost’s Bolete Transparent Watercolor and Time-lapse
Fox Sparrows are beautiful and entertaining birds. I tend to see them only in the spring and fall, but when I do get a peek at them, I always get excited. They are chunky birds with beautiful color and a fun habit of … Continued
Jumping Spider on Peony Transparent Watercolor and Time Lapse
Yes, another Jumping Spider! I can’t get enough of these endearing arthropods. I’m looking forward to seeing them again this spring. Occasionally I’ll come across one in the house in the winter and wonder what the little guy is finding … Continued
Plum-colored Starling (Violet-backed Starling) Transparent Watercolor and Ink
This bird is a great example of why they use scientific names with a genus and species. It has at least three common names: Violet-backed Starling, Plum-colored Starling and Amethyst Starling. Granted, they are pretty spectacular, so maybe one name … Continued
Red Squirrel Transparent Watercolor Painting and Time Lapse
Red squirrels are just about as cute as it gets for common rodents. Ok, flying squirrels are cuter, but they don’t qualify as common here in central Michigan. When choosing what to draw and paint, I usually follow whatever has my … Continued
Dunlin Transparent Watercolor Painting and Time Lapse
Because of Christmas, New Year’s, two family birthdays and a road trip all within a month’s time, I’m way behind on posting artwork. A Winter Dunlin is the subject of this recent watercolor painting, and it presented a good set of challenges. Here in … Continued
Yellow-crowned Night Heron Transparent Watercolor
I haven’t done a straight “bird portrait” in a while. Instead, I’ve been painting entire birds—each with a portion of its environment serving as part of the subject. I used to paint portraits regularly, but I think they work best on … Continued