Gray Treefrog Sketch
Any day that you get to see a gray treefrog is a good day. I hear these guys all the time, but see them only occasionally. Currently we have a green one living in a big set of wind chimes … Continued
House Sparrow Sketch
House sparrows are a real problem. They are said to be the most abundant wild bird species in the world. Visually, the males have some appeal. One can’t help but admiring their tenacity. At the same time they outcompete many … Continued
Common Redpoll Sketch
Winter never seems quite as long if the redpolls decide to come this far south in Michigan.
Blue-tipped Dancer Damselfly Step-by-Step
Damselflies have long been a favorite insect of mine. I remember first seeing them when I was very young. I thought they looked like little jewels. I’d see different varieties when we’d go to a nearby lake. All the damselflies, … Continued
Ebony Jewelwing Sketch
Over the years I’ve done a few paintings of these spectacular, yet common broad-winged damselflies. Its fun to watch these efficient predators eating mosquitoes along a stream in the woods. Admittedly they don’t look the same with out the black … Continued
Bay-breasted Warbler Step-by-Step
Any day I see a bay-breasted warbler is a great one. This painting is based on photos of a cooperative male we found at Metzger marsh, at Crane Creek, OH. That is a phenomenal place to see migrant warblers … Continued
Calico Pennant Dragonfly Sketch
Last summer I took hundreds of photos of dragonflies. This calico pennant was a real beauty. I found it in the field behind our house sitting on some common dock. On nice mornings, the kids and I would head over … Continued
Female Forktail Damselfly Step-by-Step
Forktail damselflies can be hard to tell apart in the field. The males have some diagnostic features making identification a little easier. Discerning the species of a female forktail is well beyond my abilities of identification. Nonetheless, they are beautiful … Continued
Pileated Woodpecker Step-by-Step
Although I did this painting few years ago, I scanned it in as it was being painted, so I thought it would be worth sharing as a “work in progress” series. PIleated woodpeckers lived in the woods around our house … Continued
Brown-headed Cowbird Sketch
Birders are never to happy to see brown-headed cowbirds. They are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other birds. Its not uncommon to see a tiny common yellow-throat warbler trying to feed an enormous baby cowbird almost … Continued