Friday, June 14, 2013

Mockingbird

Mockingbird, gouache on Arches, 14x11
Oh My Gouache!  Two paintings in one week; definitely a record for me. 
At the Y yesterday, I painted this from one of my photos stored on the iPad.  When I sat on the front porch several years ago I was constantly eye-balled by a young mockingbird couple; one had a single feather always out of place.  Is this the evil eye?   Purple and yellow?  Why not play with all my colors? 
Posted by Picasa

17 comments:

  1. He's SPLENDID!! I love his colors. (A bird with a feather always out of place would make a nice theme.) What a great summer painting. I love the play of colors- you have such a wonderful command of darks and lights. Yes yes! Play with all the colors!!!

    Hope you got my comment on your Monday post too. If not, I'll redo it because I had LOTS to say.
    Two Hallie posts in one week means I'll go into the weekend smiling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi again PAMO. I have a small set of guaches, a paper-plate palette, and brushes that I take to the Y for Thursday painting. It's fun--I have a lot of "whoops" and "uh-oh" moments. It's good to find that joy in painting again.

      Delete
  2. Oh he is just delightful! What a pretty bird!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very eye-catching against that red!!! We had a mockingbird for a while - in the spring a couple of year's ago. It was such a bully bird, it chased off everything from our feeders - not a pleasant bird at all during mating season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rhonda. We have lots of mockingbirds--I've watched them dive bomb neighborhood dogs when they're protecting their nests. The chair was actually white but I decided to check out the reds--looks a bit like a watermelon.

      Delete
  4. You don't often see gouache paintings around , this one is lovely with beautiful colors , almost looks like a watercolor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jane. I think gouache might be a bit easier, although it does pick up the color underneath--unless I'm really fast.

      Delete
  5. oh how cool--two paintings in close succession! Love this bird --a most charming character. (But, once when I visited my Mom in Florida I had to listen to a *%^&** mockingbird doing all it's mocking outside my window at 3am). Looking forward to your next painting from the Y!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Celeste. All birds are loud in the A.M.--something has been waking me around 6 and I'm guessing it's a bird. It must be louder than the white noise of my soother (and my ear plugs). I think I might make Thursdays"gouache day--easy to carry.

      Delete
  6. Gouache, Hallie, he is delightful! I wonder how he got that ruffled feather? Your mockingbirds sound like our Stellar Jays. Both playful and evil and sly all at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Carole. I googled Stellar Jays; we have Blue Jays who grab all the peanuts. I've kept an eye out for an adult mockingbird with a ruffled feather--haven't seen one; maybe he lost it. They're cool birds with great voices.

      Delete
  7. You've been busy while I've been absent from blogland with a friend visiting and off doing art in the mountains.

    I like your choice of colors a lot. The I-Pad is a wonderful art tool, isn't it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome back Mary. I know you've been traveling and painting--you're always on the move. Yes, the iPad is a great tool; I hope you're enjoying yours.

      Delete
  8. Wish our mockingbirds were purple and orange, like yours! Love the single feather, nice touch. I think he is a handsome devil! Great fun! I love birds!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dan. I was going with gray but stopped when I'd mixed a dark purple--sometimes painting should just be about playing around.

      Delete
  9. wasn't sure what the red was until I read one of your responses, it was a chair that you made red instead of keeping it white? For me the red makes the purples stand out more.

    ReplyDelete