"Early Spring Statement" Red-winged Blackbird

I just realized I haven't posted anything new since early November. Where does the time go?

This is the WIP to completion of a 7 x 5 acrylic on Ampersand board, of a Red-winged blackbird declaring his early territory on an old cattail.

WIP 1, just starting:

Looking to get the form of the bird as I go. Second Stage:

More:

Getting closer, and now for more layers on the bird (5-7 layers of glaze), then to the fun part, when I get to add the cottony fluff of the old cattail!

And finally, it's done:

That was fun!

Glad to hear any comments on this one, and thanks for looking.

Soaring Cliffs 4x5 acrylic painting

This is on a canvas panel from photos taken in New Mexico years ago. More small paintings will be coming.

The small pieces go very quickly and I am really liking the process.

Arizona Palms, Sanders Road

Once in a while I actually paint a landscape. This is a little 8x10 of palms near our home. I played with the colors here, just having fun with the paint.

Natural Grace-Giraffe

This is another of the African Wildlife series. It's 9 x 12 on an Ampersand panel, in acrylic.It's my interpretation of a photo image by Cathy Sheeter (many thanks for the pic.)

I really like the graceful arc of the neck, and so the name.

A Little Attitude, Young Giraffe

This is a baby giraffe that has such a facial expression that I couldn't resist trying to capture that look. He certainly had "a little attitude."

 It's a 5x7 acrylic on board, already sold. Great fun to paint!

 This is a closer look at his expression:

American Bison, Acrylic

This is a 5x7 acrylic on Ampersand board. Thanks to Donna Ridgeway for the excellent reference!

This is now in a private collection, hot off the easel. Because I still work full time, my painting/drawing chances are limited, but I persist. I love the Golden Open acrylics because I can keep a palette going for weeks, using the simple 'sandwich' of styrofoam plates for a palette. One is the palette and the other is the lid, both sealed in a Ziploc bag, works great, and it's really cheap-just pitch the palette when it's too full of paint (saving the paint still usable), and the system goes on forever. Love it. I tried the stay-wet palettes, but wasn't as satisfied as I have been with my cheap and endlessly replaceable plates.

Anyway, here is the latest piece:

I'm always glad to hear any comments and questions, and thanks for looking!

Dama Gazelles

This is the second of the African animals, Dama gazelles, native to several African countries, endangered now, I understand.

This is 5x7 acrylic on board, from photos I shot at the San Antonio zoo some years ago. I always intended to paint this piece since then, but only now got it done. I am working smaller lately and the pieces go much faster, so there will be more coming soon.

I'm glad to hear any comments on this piece.