Nature's Rhythm

It is never truly spring till the birds come to take a bath. After a few late winter storms and freezing temperatures, finally this morning  there was this female cardinal luxuriating in a warm bath all fluffed up while the mate watched from the nearby forsythia bush. It was a comforting sight. Then in the afternoon I saw a handful of dark eyed juncos and a robin. Now I can say, spring is here.

Linked to Image-in-ing. 

Great Backyard Bird Count 2017

My original plan for the Great Backyard Bird Count which was held from Feb 17 to Feb 20 was to both count the birds that visited my backyard during this period and to paint as many of the birds that visit my backyard throughout the year. The plan started well. On the first day, I counted three dark-eyed juncos and one robin. I did a watercolor of a tufted titmouse (which I had seen the day before the count began). The next day, my husband and I decided on a spur-of-the moment visit to the Hindu Temple at Pittsburgh, which is about 5 1/2 hours drive from where we live. The backyard bird count went by the wayside. I managed to sketch two more birds at the hotel but did not do any watercolor. Coming home I got the flu and that pretty much ended my plan for the GBBC. Now that I am recovered I am hoping to create a few more watercolor birds. 

In other news, the March-April issue of Cloth Paper Scissors has featured two of my art projects: the wall mural I had done in my living room and a submission to the mixed-media studio accessory. Doing a happy dance!

Thanks for visiting.

Linked to Paint Party Friday. Thanks to Eva and Kristen for hosting.

Linked to Art Journal Journey 'Out and About'.

B is For Backyard Birds

Do-Something-Everyday,July 18, 2016

It is letter B at ABC of Wednesday. Mine is an alliteration---Backyard Birds. It is another hot and humid summer season here in the Garden State. But the perennials are blooming and attracting their share of birds, bees and the butterflies. Last week I saw a lovely American goldfinch (New Jersey's state bird) perched on a seed head of a huge purple coneflower. I watched it through the window. Later on, I did a watercolor version of it (last photo below). That was not enough for me. I drew it on wood using a wood-burning tool (below). Finally, I created a  paper-cut version of it (above). Each one was challenging in its own way but I like all of them.

Linked to ABC Wednesday and Art Journal Journey.

Thanks for visiting.

Twenty Shades of Robin

Do-Something-Everyday, June 30, 2016

Ball pen sketches from observations of a couple of robins in the backyard. They stayed perched on a tree stump for several minutes and were so close to where I was standing with my camera that I could not resist taking several pictures. Seeing their many expressions, I had to sketch them. I am planning to rework them into a more formal drawing/painting at some point.

Linked to Paint Party Friday. Thanks for Kristin and Eve for hosting.

Blue Wednesday

Do-Something-Everyday, May 4, 2016

The other day suddenly a group of blue jays chattering nervously took shelter in the lilac bush. As I watched, way up a hawk circled and then glided past the yard. A really scary moment for  the blue jays.

Do-Something-Everyday: Happy Earth Day

Do-Something-Everyday: April 22, 2016
Today is Earth Day and I celebrate it with sights and sounds of avian visitors to my backyard. They are not exotic birds but common ones but they seem to like what they find here: water, flowering trees and shrubs. Spotted today:

Birds Galore!

I had this wallpaper swatch printed from Spoonflower using my own painting of red finch, a bird commonly found in India. 

I had no need for a wallpaper but I used it to cover the switch plates in the kitchen. My kitchen walls are off-white. So, these red birds offer a touch of whimsy that is pleasing.

Speaking of birds. With the advent of early spring, my backyard has been abuzz with activity, which I was able to capture rather happily with the new 300mm lens for my Nikon D7000. Take a look.

It started with this white breasted nuthatch scampering on this tree trunk. It snowed on that day.

This robin looked rather colorful against the snow.

It started with these two Canadian geese floating by serenely one mid-afternoon on the Hackensack river.

Then it turned into this catfight!

Some ferocious action in my backyard too. This pileated woodpecker looked like he was going to chop my tree down. I have to throw stones at him to drive him away.

Big birds are magnificent but it is the small birds that make me happy to see them. 

Here is dark-eyed junco. The light was good enough to capture its bright black eyes.

And its cousin, the common sparrow.

Female and male cardinals.

Finally, this tufted titmouse on a bare pear branch.

Linked to Paint Party Friday. Many thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting.

Thanks for visiting. Happy Spring!