New Hyacinth Macaw Miniature Painting

I posted my recent painting of a Hyacinth Macaw on a rainforest branch. I am very fond of exotic birds such as macaws and other parrots. They all have such colorful personalities that are easily captured in a painting. It is also refreshing to use such bright colors since many of my paintings so often require subtle browns, grays, and neutral tones. I have hopes that one day these birds won't be so threatened by loss of habitat and the pet trade. I don't think there would be anything more beautiful to see than a flock of wild hyacinth macaws in the rainforest treetops. You can view one of the World Wildlife Fund's projects to help the Hyacinth Macaw in Brazil @ http://www.wwf.org.br/english/informa/sitearara_projeto.htm

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas A. Edison

New Paintings & Cold Temperatures

I have recently begun the color phase of my recent bathing swan miniature commission. I like the way it's turning out. A photo of the color painting is now posted next to the sketch in my studio's commissions page if you'd like to take a look.

I've just started the 20x30 swan painting. I chose to paint a little different pose and a different species then I normally do -- a trumpeter swan this time. I also chose to start the piece without a traditional drawing of pencil or similar method. I began by drawing with my brush. Beginning in this way is less forgiving of course, but I like the fluidity of the "sketch". I know of several portrait painters that work in this way (one of them is Daniel Greene who my mother studied with), so I thought it might be interesting to try. I did start my painting "Cockatoo Talk" without a drawing, just began painting, but that was because I couldn't find a pencil. I am also working on a squirrel painting from some of the references I shot while we were on the east coast.

One thing you can be sure of in Minnesota this time of year is that it will be chilly. My family and I went up north a few days ago for a photoshoot. The Twin Cities area doesn't have a lot of snow or ice, so we had to travel north a bit, which also means colder temperatures. The thermometer didn't rise above 27° during the entire shoot -- making for some numb fingers & toes. I could have taken a break to warm up -- which, yes I should have :) & was reminded of -- but I was having so much fun I couldn't bring myself to quit. We did come away with some very nice photo references in spite the cold. The area had a nice subtle look with a lot of delicate tones -- very inspiring! Just about all of our shots turned out. I took about 1,300 in the 3hr shoot. More ideas to paint!!

"Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do."
-- unknown

Snow Painting Almost Finished

I have just about finished my snow painting. I've added a chickadee in the bare branches -- I thought the addition of a small bird would be nice and add to the delicate feel of the branches. I have also finished my giraffe commissioned piece. I've recently noticed that I haven't finished too many paintings for a while (just started a number of them), so these completed works are very satisfying :).

Thank you to all of our patrons who visited our fall show at the Carpenter Nature Center and for making it our best yet! We are already planning the next show this spring.

Nature Center Exhibition

I've just posted an image of the painting of snow I mentioned in my last journal post. It's been one of those pieces -- I see something different in it everyday. It is such a complicated piece when I am painting it up close, but becomes a simple design that melds together when I stand back. It's a mystery to me when paintings do that. I hope to have it done soon. I have a number of things to add to the piece, but It's beginning to take shape.

I don't know about other artists, but every painting that forms in my head is or appears to be perfect -- until I try to actually paint it of course. I would love to be able to transfer these images from my mind directly to the painting surface. It seems that you can never accomplish all you want to in a painting -- say everything you want to say. That is probably the way it's supposed to be. If you could say everything you wanted to say in a single painting, you would never need to paint another one. With that said, I will be painting for quite a while :).

I have a number of new editions being released this weekend for our annual Fall/Winter exhibition at the Carpenter Nature Center. I will be donating an original piece, an 8x10, to be raffled or auctioned for the nature center's benefit. At this time I don't know how they will arrange the fundraiser, but I will post information about it in the website as soon as I am notified -- if you are interested in joining in.

One of my galleries has a client interested in a larger swan painting that they've requested I paint for them. I will be starting that painting for them soon. I think I will be painting it 20x30.

"Our prayers are answered not when we are given what we ask, but when we are challenged to be what we can be." -- Morris Adler