Sunday, March 22, 2009

Spring’s Calling Card

Spring Bird acrylic painting

Spring’s Calling Card

Purchase information to follow once it’s varnished

This is my entry for the Virtual Sketch Date this month. Thanks to Stacy Rowan for the reference photo and doing the admin work this time.

As I don’t do many bird paintings or drawings (maybe one or two so far), I decided to just experiment. I took branches from one side of the photo, put them under the bird on the other side, and flipped the whole thing horizontally.

I put in a wash of bright red as the ground as I knew I wanted to have flecks of red showing through the gray background. My original background was too cool, so I added in some yellow ochre…then splashed in some white to break up all the warmness…then decided it was done!

19 comments:

Jeanette Jobson said...

Fabulous little bird Rose. He looks about to take flight. The colours are great.

I'm just in the sketch portion of mine, you're miles ahead of me. :)

Jennifer Rose said...

this is wonderful! :D nice deep red bird.

Stacy said...

I love your little bird Rose. The colors are great.

I haven't started yet, so you and Jeanette are both miles ahead of me. :D

Ann said...

Beautiful painting Rose!

S.G. Chipman said...

Nicely done, Rose - I love how you're able to capture details even when using fat, carefree strokes.

I noticed you've signed your whole name - the last few pieces I've noticed you signed just with a stylized "R" - I think your full name is a better way to go in terms of a brand. My 2¢, anyway.

Belinda Lindhardt said...

This is fabulous Rose :)i like how you have just done the bird, i didnt think that far :)well done :)

Rose Welty said...

Jeanette, I was terrified of having to paint a bird...I just wanted it over so I wouldn't worry about it. You get credit for a sketch - I just starting slapping down the paint.

Jennifer, thanks, I definitely made him more red than the ref. :D

Stacy, you and Mr. Linky have been busy! You've still got a week, no worries.

Ann, thanks.

Cheers Steve. I agree with your two cents...I have wanted to sign my name for a while...but I was trying to figure out how to do it with a brush. I just gave up on that and use a pen. :D

Thanks Belinda, I knew I wouldn't be able to pull off that bird feeder, so I cut it out. :D

Robyn Sinclair said...

You look like you have been painting birds for quite a while, Rose. This is really beautiful and I love the way you've used the quick strokes of white in the background.

Signature looks great too.

Kasie @ ~The Art of Life~ said...

This is really wonderful Rose! I love the brushstrokes.

:)

Olga Wagner said...

Love it - Love the color and the brush work and the composition.

ego2005 said...

nice interpretation! I love the color.

:D

Rose Welty said...

Robyn, you are too kind!

Kasie, thanks.

Olga, thanks for commenting!

Elias, thanks.

Jo Castillo said...

Rose, just great. Nice brushstrokes. An inspiration for me to work with more paint and looser.

christine said...

I love this little red bird. The great colors are so vibrant!

christy said...

I love your work--especially your paintings. Very loose, love the style.

Shelly McC said...

Gorgoeus!

SYLVIANE said...

It was inventive, to paint only one bird, and it is lovely

Blade21292 said...

What a beautiful, little red bird! Great job!

Sherry Pierce Thurner said...

He's great, filled with personality and attitude. I love it when you interpret freely.