Baby Chicks!

 

My first drawing in my new Chicken Sketchbook - our newest baby chicks!  The sketchbook is a gift from my youngest son, and is made by a Fair Trade Organization called Mr. Ellie Pooh in Sri Lanka.  This is the home of one tenth of the world's total 40,000 Asian elephants.  These pages are made of recycled paper and elephant poo - no kidding!!  Since the paper is so porous, it does not work for watercolor or even gouache. But pen and ink, and acrylic work beautifully, and that's all I've tried so far.  I love working in a book that is artisan made, and I plan to fill the pages with the drawings and antics of my hens. Painting number 4811 in 4811 days. 

Three Chicks

 

I feel like it's already Easter with these chicks in the house! It's so fun to cuddle and paint them, and they are showing their unique personalities, too!  We brought them home last Thursday, and they are already growing. Michael and Tess gave me an artisan made Chicken sketchbook, so I have decided to fill it with chicken sketches and paintings. The paper is made of recycled paper and ELEPHANT POO!!  There's a whole backstory to creating these sketchbooks and turning poo into funds to support the elephants and their community.  The paper is porous, so I've sketched in ink and colored with acrylic.  Watercolor does not move at all in this paper. The cover is a three dimensional rooster head, which is the inspiration for the theme of this journal.  I can't wait to try more mediums on these pages as I capture all my girls, one by one.  Painting number 4810 in 4810 days. 

Winter Hackberry

 

I love painting this cool old hackberry on the place. It's one of two very old ones here.  It's been rainy and drizzly most of the day, and I love the moodiness of the pasture.  Oils are so expressive in the landscape, each stroke marking the flow of the grass and trees.  What a peaceful way to spend a little time.  Painting number 4809 in 4809 days. 

Winter Trees

 

I love a quick, loose paint on a misty, moody day.  The colors are more saturated in such light, and the subtle shifts in hue area almost ethereal.  The days have been so gorgeous, I feel we've had so little winter.  So, I'm soaking it in while I can.  Spring will be bursting forth sooner than I think!  Painting number 4808 in 4808 days. 

Herb Seed Packets

I worked in the garden until I was pelted with sleet! Then, I sketched my progress as the rain watered my seeds!  It's been so gorgeous until today, and I've been winter sowing more seeds this winter than ever!  I nearly forgot to plant 10 Ozark Besuty strawberries (mainly by the back door pump) and probably a third of the 100 red onion sets that I picked up earlier in the week.  We should get good rain over the next few days, which will give every seed a boost.  I also spread a bee lawn mix over some bare patches, too.  And since I've never tried that blend before, I have no idea what to expect.  I'm going to enjoy watching all these new plants emerge in the coming weeks!  Painting number 4807 in 4807 days.