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“Blackbird Study” on May 28, 2010

Today, though it is sad, I did a watercolor study of a blackbird female that died after flying into our patio window. Just as other naturalists before me have done, I took advantage of having a real bird in front of me and did a study as quickly as I could. I find that if you love nature you can do this as a way of showing respect for the creature and not think of it as ‘gross’. Of course always be careful handling things like this by washing your hands after, putting it on plastic, not having food or drink nearby while working…just to be safe. I did notice a little tiny bug or two on it as I worked, which made me work even quicker, to get it out of the house sooner!

Watercolor study of Female Blackbird-stage 1

Watercolor study of Female Blackbird-stage 1

The picture above shows my pencil sketch and beginning stages of watercolor. I am laying in the golden color that I see ‘under’ the darker colors of the feathers.

Watercolor study of Female Blackbird-stage 2

Watercolor study of Female Blackbird-stage 2

Here I put dark tone on the tail and more darks on the head and some cool tones along the side of the breast to start to round the form.

Watercolor study of Female Blackbird-stage 3

Watercolor study of Female Blackbird-stage 3

Some more dark tones and details are laid in, feathers on ‘bottom’ wing.

Watercolor study of Female Blackbird-stage 4

Watercolor study of Female Blackbird-stage 4

At this stage I stopped painting feeling it was done, at least working from the ‘real’ model. I put a light wash of cool blue on the belly and added more color to the breast along with more details there.

Watercolor study with Blackbird

Watercolor study with Blackbird

When I stood up and looked from further back, I felt it needed a more broad wash of dark on the birds right side so I just grabbed my brush and quickly washed some tone on, while standing up. Many times I like to work on my watercolors from a standing position to keep them loose and free; if it’s a detailed painting I like to either start it while standing to have a loose feel, or at least finish it this way. I could add some loose color around the bird, but I just didn’t feel like adding to it.

My set up to add final details from computer

My set up to add final details from computer

So on another day I set up to touch up details using my photographs of the dead bird from my laptop. I used my field pan of watercolors and brushes and a magnifying glass to help me see details.

Dead Blackbird - stage 6

Watercolor study of female Blackbird - stage 6

At this point I decided it was finished. To be honest, I wanted to go back and ‘scratch’ out highlights along the legs to show their shine and make them stand out from the dark background, I also wanted to add grasses around the bird, but I’ve had too many other things to work on and just didn’t get time. So it’s DONE.

Blackbird male

Blackbird male

I don’t want to leave you with a dead Blackbird, here’s two photos of a healthy male so you can see how nice they look, their song is even nicer!

Blackbird male

Blackbird male

As a side note, the Blackbird (UK) is in the Thrush family just as my American Robin is. For my American readers you’ll notice a very close silhouette to our Robin, and the song, though different is beautiful as thrush songs are.  The male Blackbird is ‘black’ with a yellow beak, the female looks, well like my painting, brown with speckles on breast.

“Nature Hike on Long Lane Farm” 5-22-09

Long Lane Farm Hike pg1 5-22-09

Long Lane Farm Hike pg1 5-22-09

Today was gorgeous so I set out for a nice long trek on my farm property. There is a lane that runs the length of my property called “Long Lane” and halfway along it is “The Maze”, an area that I cut circular paths on with a brush hog, that intersect and create a sort of ‘maze’. My boys liked to use it years ago for paint ball games, but I find that it’s a great place to see certain birds. The “Maze” is surrounded by relatively new bush growth and two tree lines, one containing old growth oaks. I have found the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks like it, and every Spring I can find the Rufus Sided Towhee singing there. Just along the “Oak Lane” bordering the “Maze” I hear the wonderful melodies of the Wood Thrush and sometimes a Veery.

Long Lane Farm Hike pg2 5-22-09

Long Lane Farm Hike pg2 5-22-09

I’ve been searching for that elusive Wood Thrush to catch his picture, but it’s much easier to hear him than see him. Today I saw and or heard 26 different birds! I have them all listed on my sketch page, I use a dot showing I’ve heard it, a check mark for those I’ve actually seen.

Long Lane Farm Hike pg3 5-22-09

Long Lane Farm Hike pg3 5-22-09

I do have photos I took while sitting at the Maze; the great thing about sketching or painting in nature is as you sit quietly birds can surprise you out of nowhere. Here are a variety of photos from my hike though some may be a bit blurry, I was so excited to be able to zoom in so close with my camera, but hand holding a big lens when zooming is tough. But I have found that when I look at them on my computer I can see so much more than in the field, and they’re great to use for painting references. Enjoy!

Dandilion

Dandilion

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Kingbird

Feild Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Feild Sparrow 2

Field Sparrow 2

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

The Eastern Kingbird was sooo far up in a huge oak tree that I wasn’t sure what it was at first…so beautiful to watch; he’d fly right up into the sky from the tree top and do some acrobatics to catch his bug dinner, then back to the tree top. The Field Sparrow has such a pretty song, a song to me that means summer. The Song Sparrow just sat on the branch for a bit, all fluffed up, then he settled down even more and puffed like a fat little plumpkin!

Hawthorn in Bloom

Hawthorn in Bloom

Ginger Resting at the Maze

Ginger Resting at the Maze

Yellow Warbler 1

Yellow Warbler 1

Yellow Warbler 2

Yellow Warbler 2

After our time at the Maze we walked out to the “Enchanted Forest”, sometimes called “The Emerald Forest”; the trees there are so mystical almost, it’s so green and beautiful. It’s there that I saw the Veery, wow! , I caught sight of it on the tree not far from me, and I think it was trying to hide by not moving. It didn’t sing, but moved around a bit, I can’t tell you how lucky I was to snap a few pictures!

Enchanted Forest

Enchanted Forest

Veery

Veery

I hope you enjoyed this beautiful walk with me today! Please leave me comments and don’t forget to visit my shop to see my paintings, sketches and photographs on note cards, mugs, t-shirts…many gift items!