Details, details

For a few reasons, I'm not crazy about birds' feet. Not that they smell or anything, but they're scaly, skinny, generally not too attractive, and they're hard to figure out how to draw and paint. I've known for a while that the back toe on the feet of most perching birds is the equivalent of our big toe, and it's not jointed, so it doesn't wrap around a perch like the others do. What I found out today is that the other toes have different amounts of joints, and I've been studying diagrams to help me do the best job of making them look accurate. Who wants to lose a sale because a knowledgeable and particular customer says, "I'm not going to buy that painting because you should know that the third digit has three bones, and I only see two." That's not highly likely to happen, I know. However, I can tell when looking at another artist's work if they have really observed and are educated about their subject. Once, a bird artist I met at a show, a wood carver, pointed out to me that he could tell I knew my subject because my bird's back toe was straight, not bent. Believe it or not, I was flattered by that comment.


I found this very simple yet very helpful drawing from a Google search for bird foot anatomy. It was done by an artist named Jack Laws. I hope I have given him enough credit for this drawing!

Doldrums

That about says it- doldrums.

Back by Popular Demand. . .

For some reason, the Downy Woodpecker is my most- sold bird subject. This is my latest version of the Downy, perched on an oak branch in October. It's inspired by a large tree in my front yard that is frequently visited by downys (downies?) as well as other bird species. Of course, you're not supposed to have large trees so close to the house, but the tree was here before the house was. It sheds leaves, branches, acorns, dead bugs and live squirrels on the roof. Those are the negatives, but it creates a shady environment for the front yard, which is a positive.

Just About Everything

If you'd like to take a look at what I've been drawing and painting for the last several years, go to: www.photobucket.com/artbyannegilna. Click on the various "tags" on the left side of the page.

Fire in the Sky

It's time for the annual show in the back yard. For a few days each October this maple tree absolutely glows. The photos don't do it justice, but these are my best efforts.

What Happened?

Time to pick the moths and spiders off the aloe vera plant and bring it inside. It seems like a minute ago I was feeling the warm sun.

End of 2009

The art fair season is now over, just in time for the weather to turn chilly and furnace-worthy. I'm hoping to catch up on some new paintings. I have all kinds of ideas, let's see what materializes.