Symphony Series: Bald Eagle

I completely forgot to post this painting here.

I finished this Bald Eagle at the beginning of the Summer. :) It was a long time in production. I actually began working on the piece in 2012, but it just kept getting pushed to the back of the ol work-in-progress list. I also have a hen painting that is in the same boat. It was started at the same time as this eagle, and I am going to prioritize it and get it finished by the end of 2013 (here I come holiday break!).

Where I live in Alberta, we have Bald Eagles nesting along the Red Deer River. I see them soaring high in the sky when I go for walks. I wanted to have the same perspective for this painting. I love the contrast of the dark body, white head and tail, and then the bight (and huge) yellow beak and feet.

The reference photo I used was kindly provided by an excellent wildlife photographer from Calgary, Glenn Alexon.
http://www.glennalexon.com

"Bald Eagle Espressiva"
Acrylic on canvas.
60x36 inches.

New Nest Painting

This is the fourth of these nest paintings that I have done. They always take a long time to paint, for their size. It just ends up being a slow process, of building up the texture, creating a three dimensional image with shadows and light, and all the different colours in the straw or twigs or whatever the nest is made of. In the end though, I always really like the way they turn out.

"Northern Mockingbird Nest"
Acrylic on canvas.
10 x 10 inches.
Sold.

Symphony Series / Goldfinch

"American Goldfinch Impromptu"
Acrylic on canvas.
20 x 20 inches.

The newest addition to this series. :) Just finished in Dec 2012.

I need to take a better photo of this painting, but for now it will have to do. Enjoy!

Art Card Dump / #1

Oh boy! I have so much artwork to post. I haven't been as up to date with this as I should.

Keep in mind that I am always working on new stuff, I just dont get a chance to blog about it as much as I would like to. So this is the first of a few posts that will be done back to back to show what I have been working on.

MUSHROOMS!!! and Pumpkins!

I started challenging myself to practice painting without doing any drawing. With these I did a quick basic sketch to layout the composition and then went in with my acrylic paints, so they are different from my usual work, but super fun none the less. :)

Each piece is atc sized @ 2.5 x 3.5 inches.
Available for purchase through my Etsy Shop.
*Click the image to magnify.*

2.5 x 3.5 inches each.
*Click on the image to magnify.*

Long Time ... Its Summer!!!

Well I kind of let this blog go the way of the summer holiday. Summer is almost over though (omg only a month left) so I shall be getting back to keep this up. Here is my new bird painting. Its a commission I finished up in July.

 

"The Pretty One"

18 x 24 inches.

Acrylic on canvas.

 

*Click on the image to magnify.*

 

Mini Birds

These two are an unlikely pair, but they are my latest mini bird portraits.

I hope you enjoy them. They will be going up for sale in my Etsy shop, if they dont sell at the Art Show im at this weekend.

- Robert Pheasant
- Ruby Hummingbird

5 x 5 inches each.
Acrylic on massonite board.

Symphony Series / Cedar Waxwings

This is a very large painting, that took a very long time. I am really glad its done and it turned out so well. :)

"Waxwing Rhapsody"
36 x 60 inches.
Acrylic on canvas.

Available at the Bluerock Gallery.

*Click on the image to magnify.*

Symphony Series / Crow

A new bird painting! This one is meant to be a companion piece to the Cardinal I did a little while ago. http://tempeststudios.blogspot.ca/2011/11/symphony-series-cardinal.html

"Crow Nocturn"
20 x 20 inches.
Acrylic on canvas.

For sale at the Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond, AB.

The In Crowd

More miniature bird portraits.

I always seem to paint a bunch of these during the holidays.

"Max Wing"
"Jack Junco"
and
"Bluebell Jay"

5 x 5 inches each.
Acrylic on massonite board.

These are also available at the Bluerock Gallery. http://www.bluerockgallery.ca/

*Click on the image to magnify.*

Bird Nests

Here I thought I was giving myself an easy chore in these two paintings. Not so much. They were much harder to paint that I first thought.

Lots of layering. Lots of shading. Lots of colour mixing to make them three dimensional. Also, a surprising amount of pre-planning had to take place in what went where. It was a bit frustrating, but the second nest was a tad easier, since I had worked out many of the bugs on the first.

Robin's Eggs / Cedar Waxwing Eggs
10 x 10 inches each.
Acrylic on canvas.

Available for purchase through the Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond.

Symphony Series / Cardinal

I am now calling my bird paintings "Symphony", because I have used classical music lables in all the titles. :)

This is the newest edition to the series. A sunny day cardinal.

"Cardinal Choral"
20 x 20 inches.
Acrylic on canvas.

It is for sale through the Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond, Alberta.

*Click on the image to magnify.*

Birds and Feathers

4 of my newest paintings.

These were created as sets. I have more in the works. More birds with feathers, and a few with butterflys. :)

Pheasant and Grouse Pair - "Sir Grouseman" and "Pheasant Present"
Peacock Pair - "Me Sexy" and "Sex Appeal"

5x5 inches each.
Acrylic on recycled massonite board.

They are for sale in my Etsy shop at the moment.
*Click on the images to magnify.*

Of Patterns and Sea Creatures Exhibit

Here are a few shots from my January Exhibition, "Of Patterns and Sea Creatures". I haven't had a chance to do any real photography of the artworks because my camera has been on the fritz, but you get an idea of the work.
*Click on an image to magnify.*

The large hexagon canvas is a Nautilus.

# 8

I finally finished my Peregrin Falcon. It has been on the easle for a while, but I think the wait was worth it.


"Falcon Allegro"
40 x 40 inches.
$1500.00
For Sale.

*Click on the image to magnify.*

# 7

After a long summer of humming and hawing, I have finally finished the seventh of my large paintings. This is the 4th in the Pop Series.

Now only 4 more Pop paintings to go, and 2 Bird ones. The bird I am working on now is a Peregrin Falcon. I am looking forward to seeing that one finished. Its an exciting one!

"Pop Hostas"
Acrylic on canvas.
36x60 inches.

*Click on the image to magnify.*

Red Deer River Paintings / May 2010

In may I did this series of paintings for an exhibit (in June) which was all about the river. These fish are all natives of my own Red Deer River.

'Upstream' - Whitefish - 12 x 36 inches.
'To a Trout with Love' - Brown Trout - 16 x 20 inches.
'Pink Pike' - Northern Pike - 12 x 16 inches.
'Goldeye Fly' - Goldeye - 16 x 20 inches.
'Blue Spectrum Trout' - Rainbow Trout - 12 x 16 inches.

I am still really enjoying the POP in my paintings.
*Click on an image to magnify.*

# 6

Yellow Flicker Capriccio

40 x 40 inches.
Acrylic on canvas.

The last touch on this piece were the pink and red "jewels" in the background. This is something I have added in each piece, but in this one it really finished off the whole painting. Sometimes its amazing how a small detail can make a huge difference.


















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Up next ... a Peregrin Falcon.

# 5

The third painting in the POP series. I really struggled with this pink colour. Pink is a very pop colour, but it is the hardest colour to mix, at least if you want it to be interesting and not just pastel.

Pop Geraniums
36 x 60 inches.
Acrylic on canvas.

# 4

This is the second piece in the 'Bird' series. This painting went through a slow build up. After I had "finished" it, and then stared at it for a few weeks, I decided that it wasn't quite finished. The background got a tonal change, and I added the black arrowheads. I'm pretty sure its finished now.

"Magpie Passionatta"
40x40 inches.
Acrylic on canvas.
*Sold*

# 3

"Pop Fallen Leaves"
36x60 inches.
Sold.

The second in the Pop series and the third of the 14 large paintings I am doing this year.

I am quite happy with this painting. I dont have the same uncertainties with this one as I did with the Dandelions. I might just be getting into a groove.