Betsy and Able

Each of my chickens has such a unique personality!  Betsy is one of my sweetest hens, gentle and kind to the others.  She'll sit in my lap contentedly, whether I have treats or not.  A Calico Princess, she has lovely coloring!  Able is a gorgeous Starlight Green Egger rooster, who is still sweet and takes food from my hand so carefully - with a softer touch than any of my hens.  He especially likes taking bites of buns that I hold, when we have some left over from grilling.  I'm so thankful for each of my chickens.  I never dreamed they could add so much to my world.  And of course, I LOVE painting them!  Painting number 4956 in 4956 days. 
 

Picking up Chicks

 

The antics of chickens are so much fun to paint!  I paid for premium pullets, but 3 months later, Mable started to cockle-doodle-doo!  So,  ABLE is now an adolescent, and beginning to bother ALL of the chickens.  The older girls aren't having it, but the young ones think he hung the moon.  So far, he's mainly been a gentleman, and I'm hoping for the very best.  He's been handled and cuddled since birth, and he must remain gentle with everyone, or get his own bachelor pad. This painting is headed to Gallery Zeke for the upcoming Art Squared.  Painting number 4938 in 4938 days. 

Guarding the Girls

 

I loved painting these sweet chickens at Sunflower Hill Farm- and just realized I forgot to share them! I paint so many paintings at a plein air event, that one or two slip through the cracks at times.  This handmade paper is particularly rough, and it soaked up the paint like crazy!  I thought I was finished a couple times only to go back in with more color.  Watercolor can fade so much on this handmade cotton paper!  Painting number 4894 in 4894 days. 

Goats and Chickens on the Farm

 

I forgot to get a photo of this one before I framed it for turn in!  In my rush to start a second, I rushed off to frame.  And the second one I painted of their dogs - I also forgot to get a photo as I was talking to another artist at the time!  It was so much fun to talk to the animals who came near, and give the baby goats snuggles when Ann brought them by for a visit! This goat farm was a special treat to paint and I'm happy this painting has a new home, too! Painting number 4872 in 4872 days. 

Showdown

 

It was so fun to capture the antics of these cuties at Sunflower Hill Farm!  While two were butting heads, another watched cautiously from the sideline.  The paper I use is handmade cotton rag, and each batch is artisan made.  What this means is every batch is different - and this batch felt like there was no sizing in the mix or on the surface.  So, the paper soaked up paint like crazy - and seemed to fade as it dried.  I had to reapply paint and ink until finally it remained.  I love exploring new papers, even when they require much more work on my part!  Painting number 4871 in 4871 days. 

Guarding the Girls

These sweet chickens simply begged to be painted.  Their gentle chatter was so peaceful as I sketched their forms and colors first. As they moved away, I started filling in the background.  I find I must always paint the animals first - while I can see them - before they are out of view.  I miss my own chickens and can't wait to get home to them.  Painting number 4869 in 4869 days.  

Spring Chickens

 

What fun it was to paint the whole chicken flock as they wandered down the hill at Sunflower Hill Farm!  I was halfway through a small painting when it was time to start this morning's paintout.  As I pulled out the fresh sheet, these girls began their meander down the hill!  I sketched and painted only the chickens until they had moved out of sight.  Then I began filling in the rest of the scene!  I've learned through the years that one must paint what is seen - before it flies the coop!  It was an absolutely gorgeous day for painting! I'm so happy this painting found a good home with a brand new collector, too!  Painting number 4860 in 4860 days. 

Brahmas on a Log

 

It's fun to spend a little time sketching with the girls, especially on a very busy day.  Mom and I had Goodies with Grandparents with Layne this morning, and he was adorable - and so mannerly at preschool!  I had to run to the Buttonwood Gallery, then girl time, and we finished with the Best Pet Show Ever musical to watch Gus in his second grade performance!  After dinner with them, we returned to close up the coop and finish a few chores.  It was 91 degrees today and it will only get to 56 tomorrow.  Maybe, I'll get more painting done, then.... painting number 4832 in 4832 days. 

Our Coop

 

These sweet chickens are constant entertainment for the whole family - and I'm so happy to get to paint them!  We're preparing for a new horse to arrive, so our days are full of farm work.  We've got two wood piles burning as I clear dead branches from the woods around the chicken coop.  Travis was out to help Mike with fencing, and Michaela and her family joined, too.  Finishing after dark, we came in for calico bean soup,Yahtzee and a game of Kings on the Corner.  Of course, Mom joined us for the games!  We've been playing cards a lot while Mike has had so many days off for the holidays. I love these quiet winter days full of progress and family fun!  Painting number 4749 in 4749 days. 

Chicken Coop!

 

I'm thankful for the wonderful year we've had, full of so many family adventures!  This time last year, I never would have dreamed we'd bring chickens and this beautiful coop into our lives.  With a little coaxing from the kids, we opened a new chapter.  We traveled so much this year, and i painted every minute I could, finding new favorite places along the way.  I'm looking forward to unwrapping all the magic the new year holds, one special day at a time.  Wishing you all a Happy New Year's Eve, full of family, friends and fun!!  Painting number 4747 in 4747 days. 

Our Chicks

 

There's always enough time to paint our chicks, after spending time giving them treats!  It's been a full day of trying to catch up on chores, and now we're enjoying the grandkids by the campfire!  It's warmed up a bit and there is no wind, so Nolan, Quinn and Layne helped pick up sticks to build the fire.  I love spending time outside, even in the cold of winter.  Painting number 4746 in 4746 days. 

Secretariat

 

This sweet Blue laced golden wyandotte is pretty shy, and waits for the other hens to leave my side before approaching.  She was very fast as a chick, earning her the name Secretariat, from my son, Michael. She likes being sketched in pen and ink!  Very spunky as a chick, she is more reserved and dignified now.  Little Phinny is in the foreground, wondering why I'm not sketching her today.  Who knew these chicks would grow to be part of the family?  Painting number 4745 in 4745 days. 

Winter Chickies

 

It was a lovely morning spent outside until those north winds started to blow.  I enjoyed a hot mug of tea early, barefoot on the porch, before starting the chores of the day.  I wrapped a few tree trunks in burlap, hanging shiny ornaments from their topmost bough, to protect them from the deer.  We dug a few more post holes for the new fence, trying to get ready for the horse. I squeezed in some indoor gardening between tasks, and the temperature dropped every hour.  I spent a lot of time tending to the chickens, even rubbing Vaseline on the tall combed girls!  Last super cold day, we had a few with tiny bits of frostbite, so I'm hoping to prevent that this time.  We're supposed to go to 13 degrees after a warm 64 degree start. Thankfully,  the girls don't seem to mind the cold! Painting number 4744 in 4744 days. 

Chickersons

 

It's fun squeeze in a little chicken sketch between custard and pumpkin pie! Hope your Christmas day was full of family and fun!  Each year I paint something special for each of the kids, a different theme each year. Since they talked us into bringing chicks into our lives at Easter, and spent countless hours raising this chicken coop - this is my subject!  Each one is different, and each features all eleven of our chicks.  We affectionately call the "Chickersons"!  Painting number 4742 in 4742 days.  

Eleven Hens

SOLD

 

My mom comes to visit my chickens every afternoon, feeding them some of the barley grass that I sprout for them.  She has trouble remembering all of their names, and has asked me for a painting, with their names listed, on multiple occasions.  So, here they are, all lined up, as they come to me for goodies.  What fun these little sweethearts have brought into our lives! We're wishing you the Merriest Christmas from our coop to yours!!  Painting number 4741 in 4741 days. 

Santa in the Woods with Chickens

 

What a cool ink to use for this miniature Santa and chicken scene, and I'm using a matching glass dip pen for the rendering!  Door #11 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar is a keeper!  The ink does not get darker with heavy application, but the color and chroma are lovely and frosty.  I look forward to using this for winter landscapes. Painting number 4732 in 4732 days.  

Chicks and Ornaments

 

I'm working on Christmas cards - and my hens are vying for my attention!!  They are very interested in whatever I bring into the run - and this is no exception.  They like to peck at the back of my plexiglass board, and sometimes they even nibble on the sides of my paper, leaving their "mark of approval"!  I am constantly being distracted from my task around these cuties!  Painting number 4725 in 4725 days. 

Chick's First Snow Day

 

Hooray!  It's Day 1 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, and Celestial Skies is the first ink!  I'm capturing the first snow for my chicks - and they don't like it!  With little wind, still the snow blew half way into their run.  After covering the east side, I swept out what I could and spread fresh wood mulch on top.  Once this was done, they ventured out from their huddle on the dry side to return to pecking, scratching and drinking.  I had heard chickens don't like the snow, and now I've seen it for myself!  The fancy dip pen pictured happens to also glow in the dark!  I'd forgotten that until I walked down the dark hall with it!  Painting number 4717 in 4717 days. 

Just us Girls

I'm learning how to paint with chickens! First rule - keep paint covered between strokes!  The Black Star chickens, Peeps and Beans are VERY interested in everything I have in my hands, so there is a real learning curve on how to distract them as I paint!  This is going to be a very fun adventure!  Painting number 4623 in 4723 days. 

Blue Lace Golden Wyandottes!

 

Beans" wants to know why she isn't in this painting!!  I love her sassy personality!  All of our chickens have been named by the grandkids - so we have some fun names for these girls!  Beans is the first one looking for treats and nipping the fingers of my gloves for more!  Painting number 4610 in 4610 days.