Little Wren Painting and Sadie

Hi, I painted most of today . I really love the little birds that come to visit our feeders. The Carolina Wren is so mischievous it is one of my favorites . Went with Sadie on our path into the forest to gather leaves. Sadie takes a toy outside  when we go out. I  usually have my coffee cup. I get the feeling she thinks that is my toy. 😄 happy autumn. Love , Diana and Sadie

Ker Art Festival coming and big slump....

This  is my newest  watercolor, finished and ready to frame for Ker Art & Maritime Festival. 

Sadie, has a bacterial infection, is doing better now.

so... I had class  yesterday on Great Blue  Heron  and wild grass,  I am wiped  out  I think  I put so much into my class,it takes a few days to revive.  I am just like that,ah well.  I have to gear up for the show this weekend.  I need a couple of small landscapes. We will see if I can get them done. I truly  have been in a slump for painting. I am still doing it but it is a push right now. Happy rest of the weekend. Love to you, Diana ps do you get in a slump and what revives you.

Finished Wren and Oak Leaf Hydrangea

I'm finished. I added some thalo blue down the middle ( as a shadow of a branch) to connect the blooms and then added a shadow by the upper flower. I've darkened under the wren with thalo and sepia to help him pop and hit the blossoms with more color even pushing in a little cadmium red medium at the end. I wanted more punch but I think I'd better stop. Tell me your thoughts.  Thanks, Diana

Ps.The kittens have not returned I hope they are ok..and find a permanent home.

More Watercolor Painting and Possum Chasing.

HI, I've been painting today.I used my palette knife on my leaves. Can you tell? I gobbed a little paint on, then flooded it with a juicy brush of water. It was fun! Wish I had more leaves.. well I do have one more. The kittens have moved on.. at least they are gone now. The mother cat took them away. When I looked out the kitchen window at 11 pm there was a big possum eating from the bowl of catfood. J. and I ran out on the back porch. I yelled and said ok --go get him.. and he said no..you go... so I did. I was concerned for the kittens! I just looked around and made a lot of noise. Possum was gone. After we were back sitting in the den I asked hubby.. being the man and all weren't you supposed to go after the wild critters. He said I'm building your character...hum.. :). Well I'm going back to work on this painting some more. I need to finish the blooms and do the last leaf, and I'm sure I'll see more. take care,talk to you later,Diana

Oak Leaf Hydrangea and Free Kittens..oh my.

HI, I've started a new painting. This one is of Oak Leaf Hydrangea and a Carolina Wren. In 10 days I have to have 2 new paintings --never before seen to enter into the Eastern Shore Art League Member Show. That's a new rule. Use to be only not been in the member show.. but anyway. I'm going to paint anyway. Of course we have to have names for the pieces.. not untitled 1 and untitled 2. I've done that. ha ha.. so I named them "Fall "and "Autumn". Ha ha.. well I don't know what I'll paint. I was driving up Mama and Daddy's driveway and there was the Oak Leaf Hydrangea.. so gorgeous.. the blooms are lacy.. so that's what I'm doing for 1 of them.Haven't a clue for the 2nd one.

I don't even know if I should tell you about the last photo. But here goes... Since Daisy, my lab died 6 months ago..hard to believe it's been that long.. we have been having all kinds of stray cats visit.( A farmer left many when he left his farm ..how horrible.) Well, I didn't want Rudy our 17 year old cat to be upset or bothered.. she's very delicate now,so I started putting food out for "Blackie" a black and white cat down the road in the crepe myrtle plantings.(So he wasn't coming here.) Really under the oaks there. Well the other day when it rained Blackie came up our driveway a few times which was strange. That night we discovered she had brought us her kittens. Two adorable kittens. So we are feeding them and J. put the dog house next to the porch for them to sleep in..with fresh pine needles.. We've talked and talked and can't keep them. Not with Rudy--3 more cats.. and you know I"m still hoping for a puppy soon.I've put signs up at the Post Office and Pet Store, called people.. we'll see what happens. I wish someone would call and want both or one kitten.. Anybody??

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, Love,Diana

Wren Finished

Hi, here is my Carolina Wren with the Red trumpet vine. I've used the vines to help your eyes go to the wren and seed pod. I also dropped some of the same Cadmium Red that I used to paint the flowers into the bird to highlight him.

This is from my flower patch in my backyard, forgive the weeds. They are just frothy background ( ha ha). Now I was surprised to see the stargazer lily blooming! I forgot I'd planted it. It's gorgeous!

well take care and have a wonderful weekend. Happy Fourth of July!
Talk to you soon,Diana

The art show continues until July 6Th at the Red Queen to see more photos of it -scroll down and hit "older posts". Thank you!

I just added a swirl of burnt sienna to the top right corner of the painting. This helps bring your eye back down to the focal point. I thought it needed it.!!

Trumpet Vine and Carolina Wren

Hi, the trumpet vine has finally started blooming in our backyard. I did get this piece yesterday on my walk just down the road a little. I didn't go far. I've strained something in my back and walked(ok-- hobbled) just a half a mile to stretch it. It helped a little.. but it will be better.-- The flower has so many colors in it, I used Cadmium Red, Permanent Rose, Cadmium Yellow Deep. I used Burnt Sienna, and Yellow Ochre to paint the caps.As you can see this is just the beginning of the painting!

This piece of vine has the seed pod on it and I thought it would be nice with a Carolina wren sitting on it. Those little rascals are so mischievous. They always make a nest in the back porch and once tried to make a nest in my husbands tennis shoe which was hanging on the clothesline.

We lost our air conditioning for a few days. They just repaired it! Feels good! The humidity is what makes it so hot here. Take care and stay cool, have some lovely iced tea with peppermint from your garden! talk to you soon,Diana

Next week is the end of my show at Red Queen Gallery in Onancock,Va. stop in this week or weekend!

Wren and Whos

Hi, every spring I want to paint a wren. This is my new Wren and Tomato.. The Carolina Wrens are so mischievous. Last year I had hung my wash on the clothesline. The clothes were still damp that night when I brought them in and so I put them in the dryer. The next morning my husband opened the dryer and said what in the world is in here!!! The little wren had made a nest in his blue jean shorts pocket. Thank goodness nothing but nesting material... haha.. it was all inside the dryer with all the other clothes.. and the dear little nest in the pocket. Living here we also get owls flying through the backyard. So here are 2 babies and of course in the corner of the photo- a hummer with day lily. I use Winsor& Newton Iridescent Watercolor Medium.. just use a tiny amount in a glaze at the end of your painting on my hummingbirds. I will be showing my watercolors this Sunday May 16th at Berkley Ashby's home in Belle Haven,Va. at a small Garden Art Show. from 2-5pm. to benefit Epworth Methodist Church Building Fund. This afternoon is my free afternoon-- I really need it-- and I've had a bike ride and am working on my stargazer painting. Dusty is very upset , it is raining. For a farm dog she gets really nervous in the rain. Hope we get more than a few drops. Talk to you Soon. Diana

Chickadee and Deer Antler

HI, This is the Chickadee and Deer Antler painting I have been working on. Pictured too is the antler I found on the edge of our forest. I was amazed to find one just laying in the pine shatters.The white tailed deer shed their antlers at a certain time of the year. Definitely planning on painting the whole antler later but I 'm working on some smaller pieces for a show now. This painting also has ice crystals in the right hand corner. See them? I have started a little Carolina Wren painting too with snow and colors similiar to these. Colors perfect for snowy weather. Now where is my coffee cup.. back to painting. talk soon! Diana