Another junco! This one is really full of personality. When I am out in the garden, these guys often stop and give me the eye – “what are you doing in our garden?” …but in a friendly way. lol
I have a work in progress that also features juncos but instead of a 4×4 mini, it is a 24×36 piece. It is taking some time so it might be a while before I share.
image (C) 2021 Hilary Farmer
Another small bird for my mini painting series. What can I say? I just love these little birds! I remember seeing them in forests when I was a kid especially in winter and they are around where I live now too. I think this one is extra fluffed up because it’s chilly.
image (C) 2021 Hilary Farmer
We get a lot of these delightful song birds around where I live. There’s something endearing about their jaunty tufts and characteristic markings …and even their beady red eyes are cute!
image (C) 2021 Hilary Farmer
Depending on the device you are using, this painting may look much larger than it actually is. Towards the end of the summer, I painted another series of “minis” just 4″ x 4″. It is so much fun to paint these – talk about instant gratification! I tried to keep them quick and playful. The subjects are such that they can be depicted around life-sized.
There’s something so adorable about nuthatches …maybe it’s the way they walk head-first down the tree trunks. Anyway, I decided to capture that classic pose here.
image (C) 2021 Hilary Farmer
Painting birds is so joyful for me so I wanted to revisit the varied thrush but this time in oils. This piece was not painted alla prima. I let the first layer dry and then was able to scratch through to some of the bright under-painting where I wanted. Check out near the bird’s claws for example. I was quite pleased with the balance between representing something real and having an abstracted feeling. There is a very free feeling in that colourful background.
Here is Tom’s poem that goes with this painting. He actually wrote this one separately from the painting but it turned out to be perfect for it!
Branches glow like ladder-rungs
up, up the trunk in springtime sun:
a thrush alights upon the bark,
it’s orange breast a joyful spark
of colour after winter’s grey
that ushers in the brighter days.
image (c) 2021 Hilary Farmer
poem (c) 2021 TJ Radcliffe
Another Anna’s hummingbird because …they are just so sweet. I had fun playing with colours as well as form.
Here is Tom’s short poem for this tiny painting.
So kind of humans to erect
a fence like this through open fields
where the flower’s first effect
is to make me many meals!
image (c) 2021 Hilary Farmer
poem (c) 2021 TJ Radcliffe
I started doing a fun series of birds in December and posted one per day for the “Twelve Days of Christmas” with a short poem from Tom for each. Hope you enjoyed them!
Sharp-eyed I wait among the leaves
of cold December days
remembering the summer sun
and misty autumn haze.
image (c) 2020 Hilary Farmer
poem (c) 2020 TJ Radcliffe
I started doing a fun series of birds in December. I plan to post one per day for the “Twelve Days of Christmas” with a short poem from Tom for each. Hope you enjoy!
Well let me tell you, brother mine,
the things that I have seen!
Some have been coarse, and others fine,
if you know what I mean!
image (c) 2020 Hilary Farmer
poem (c) 2020 TJ Radcliffe
I started doing a fun series of birds in December. I plan to post one per day for the “Twelve Days of Christmas” with a short poem from Tom for each. Hope you enjoy!
Not so elegant am I
but patiently I wait.
There’s magic in my wings: I fly
the mistress of my fate!
image (c) 2020 Hilary Farmer
poem (c) 2020 TJ Radcliffe
I started doing a fun series of birds in December. I plan to post one per day for the “Twelve Days of Christmas” with a short poem from Tom for each. Hope you enjoy!
This branch will never hold me long
I’ll soon be on my way
For never do I rest in song
Or pause while still it’s day!
image (c) Hilary Farmer
poem (c) TJ Radcliffe
Green Tea Doodles 