Chickadee Pair

I love sketching this sweet pair during the golden hour!  So many chickadees visit the feeders all day, bringing many other friends with them.  Surprisingly warm on this day before a winter storm advisory, I've been out tending the gardens, covering cabbage, kale, Swiss chard and lettuce!  I was so surprised to see a new little bunch of gourmet lettuce - in February!  I'm sketching today with my new TWSBI Diamond fountain pen loaded with Nutcracker ink. Instead of mixing inks, I simply went over the lines I wanted darker while they were still wet, allowing the ink to mingle.  I read some articles today about some bad chemical reactions that can happen inside a fountain pen when mixing inks willy nilly, so I think mixing on the paper best. I have so many blends I want to try with my favorite black... maybe I should buy the very inexpensive TWSBI Go just for that purpose!  If I melt the insides, it would not be a loss of one of my favs.  And, that pen is exceedingly easy to load and unload!  Painting number 2950 in 2950 days. 

Black Capped Chickadees

I almost never wear gloves when painting, but as you can see, I have them on for this ink and watercolor painting.  One of the coldest days of the week, I painted several, finding that gloves don't hinder my work as much with ink as oil.  I can not use them on my  painting hand, I need to feel the brush on the paper.  On the heated ones I've ordered, the tips of each finger are uncovered (with a flap to fold over when needed).  Working fast, I didn't have trouble with the water freezing on the paper - but I wonder..... just when does that happen?  How much time do I really have out there before I have to add vodka to my water brushpen?  Painting number 1826 in 1826 days.

Little Chickadees

Little Chickadees
Acrylic on panel, 8x10
sold

I have been gone all day, and am nearly ready to drop - so I will make this a quick post!  Playing a bit with acrylics today, this is painted on a relatively smooth surface.  Where I used to prefer acrylics for these birds, I now prefer the buttery oils.  Giving the winter gray more of a plum shading, this is a study of our little chickadees.  I sure wish there were more hours in every day - I never feel like I have enough time!  Painting number 407 in as many days :)

Sweet Chickadees

Sweet Chickadees
Oil on panel, 12x6

The little chickadees line up on these branches, awaiting their turn at the feeders.  They are very social, flitting back and forth from feeder to branch and sharing the latest gossip.  The ice today barely started to melt, and our road is still a sheet of ice.  We just have to wait for enough sunshine to melt it off before we can make it to town!  No salt out here, ever.  If we really do get 4 - 8 inches of snow on Tuesday, I hope to take the kids out to Mad Dog Hill for sledding.  Then I will have some super fun new sledding photos to paint from!  I won't be painting en plein air, because I will be on the slopes!  I'm letting this one rest for now.  I haven't decided what it needs, but "my inner voice" is not telling me it is finished.  So, I will post for now, and revisit it later.  Sometimes all a painting needs is fresh eyes on another day.  Painting number 398 in as many days :)