655 Little Finch

Little Finch

oil on canvas

8x8"

$160

     We love the birds that come to our bird baths, especially the ones who turn to give you a sardonic smile. We laugh when they splash wildly and happily in the water. This one is saying, "Doesn't take much to amuse you, does it?"

 

642 Resting Deer

 Resting Deer

oil on canvas

16x12"

$422

     I looked out and there she was under my window, looking right at me. She hung around while I got my camera and then lingered even longer as the morning passed. I left her alone to let her rest awhile.

607 Deer Gaze

 Deer Gaze

oil on canvas

6x12"

$158

     Although the whole family of deer were in the yard, lying about, they would not let me get close enough for many good pictures. I have moved the bird bath in hopes of luring them closer so that I can have more of a clear shot at them this year.

611 California Quail

California Quail

oil on canvas

6x6"

$80

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

How Emily Dickinson expressed the inexpressible!

I think paintings can be like poems. I have recently learned that James McNeill Whistler thought of paintings as musical compositions. I suppose all these means of expression are ways of making connections with others. I hope that is true.

598 Brother Squirrel

Brother Squirrel

oil on canvas

8x10"

$176

     This squirrel has a cute little face all full of such innocence, but his hands have dangerous claws. He must need them in the big world where he is so small. Also he is fast. Davy chased him one day and did not catch him. Thank goodness!

 

581 Eli

Eli

oil on canvas

12x9"

$216

     Eli lives at Animal Ark in Reno NV. His ears are very short because they froze off before the good people in Reno could rescue him. I took this picture of him considering a reddish fruit. I think it was a carrot, but since I do not paint carrots very well, I turned it into a tomato. I hope it is true that bears eat tomatoes. If not, then this is an example of artistic license.

574 Peeking Deer

Peeking Deer

oil on canvas

16x12

$384

     It was pretty cute. This one was standing behind the tree and peeked out to look at me when I took his picture. He was coming in to get a drink at the birdbath (the one that got broken when we moved). Now we have a new birdbath and I am hoping for visits from our new neighbors, the family of deer that lives here in the woods near us. I need fresh material.

564 Deer Nibbles

Deer Nibbles

oil on canvas

11x14" 

$308

     We love the deer, but they eat EVERYTHING! I caught this young buck right in the act.  He looked at me as if to say, "What?"

541 Deer in the Forest

Deer in the Forest

oil on canvas

12x12"

$288

     Getting the black really black for his eyes and nose is a surprising combination of prussian blue and transparent iron oxide red. Alchemical magic I guess. It also works with ultramarine blue.

     I liked the way his face and long throat showed up in contrast against his body as he looked over his shoulder.

Shy Buck

Oil on Canvas

16x12"

$384

 

     My photograph of this deer shows his full body at the edge of the woods as he peeks out looking at me. There was something about the mood of it I knew I wanted to paint, but I did not know how to compose it. I wanted it to be special because I felt he was special, and that made me afraid to begin. After more than two years I have finally put brush to canvas. I think he was ready at last to be painted. I love him.

El Santo

Oil on Canvas

14x11"

$308

     El Santo, the jaguar who lives at Animal Ark, was resting in the sun on a log platform, and I could not see quite all of him. When I do see all of him, he takes my breath away because he is so powerful and beautiful.

Cougar Jog

Oil on Canvas

24x18"

$864

     George Lepp, the wonderful photographer and teacher, took the splendid photograph that my painting is based on. I give him full credit for capturing this fabulous creature in mid-lope. Usually, I take my own photographs of cougars at Animal Ark, but this image was irresistible.

     Next month I will be visiting my friends at Animal Ark and hope to have lots of material for painting this summer.

Small Buck

Oil on Canvas

11x14"

$308

     This young deer was drinking at the birdbath with his herd. 

    My first try at painting him just fell flat. I knew it was worth a second try. He was so lined up in such a happy Dynamic Symmetry. I just could not give up on it. The painting went fast the second time around and I tried not to labor over it and ruin it.

Nevada County Douglas

Oil on Canvas

8x10"

$160

    

     I was actually taking a picture of something else and then found this little Douglas Squirrel on the tree trunk in the background. I love how nature composes itself and says, "Here I am." 

     On the Fletcher Color Wheel, I was trying for Yellow/Orange in the key of Blue. I ended up with Blue in the Key of Yellow/Orange. I guess. (I have a long way to go.)

On Your Mark

Oil on Canvas

10x8"

$160

     We have Gray Squirrels here in Nevada County, CA, and we also have these adorable Douglas Squirrels. This one visited our bird bath regularly, and here he is getting ready to make the great leap from rock to bath.

Resting Puma

Resting Puma

Oil on Canvas

12x12"

$288

 

     In our neighborhood, we call them cougars or mountain lions, but puma is closer to their scientific name. This is another of my Animal Ark friends. She was on her perch gazing serenely into the distance with her great soft paws crossed, ears down and peaceful.

Young Buck

Oil on Canvas

10 x 8"

$160

     This hungry guy got caught with the evidence right in his mouth. "Flowers? What flowers?"

Doug

Doug

Oil on Canvas

6 x8"

$96

     The big gray squirrels drank at our birdbath all the time and I loved them. Then one day there was a new kid on the block, a douglas squirrel. Smaller, more color, and just adorable. He is a favorite now, but the birdbath did not survive the move, and our new location is a bit too low in elevation for the douglas. The grays are here though and I am glad about that.