Planning Ahead May 9, 2016

Bird egg blue birdTwo different nests

One for now, one for later

Industrious bird.

Art Prescription:  I’ve had bluebirds building a nest inside a box in the yard for a month. Curious about this behavior, I asked the crew at Carolina Birders. Evidently these birds are building an alternate nest. While the pair takes care of sitting on eggs or feeding current fledglings, they spend their mornings building another nest. So if something happens to the first nest they have a new nest to lay eggs in or they may just use it as the next home. Fascinating how nature equips itself with procreation!!

8 x 8 mixed-media on watercolor paper

 

Clean-Up Crew May 7, 2016

Road-side clean up crew

Beauty comes in many ways

The turkey vulture.

Art Prescription:  As I drove about country roads this morning, I encountered several instances where turkey vultures were having their breakfast. Now I know this is when most go oooooooohhhhh! But perhaps we need to have more respect for these street cleaners. I didn’t paint one because I do not have a great photo reference, but next time you see some big wings circling high above give credit to the vultures of our world.

Index card with stamp and colored pencil:

Index card script

Spring! May 6, 2016

Hey, wake up it’s spring

Fast, furious thunder-storms

Birds bathe in run-off.

Art Prescription:  Caught in a down-pour today, home wet. And thankful for natures reassuring rhythms.

Index card with collage and colored pencil:

Index card spring 1

Wreaths April 26, 2016

Fresh wildflower wreaths

With pansies, bluets, roses

Bountiful circle.

Art Prescription: Anything in a circle is so pleasing. I think it taps into something deep and symmetrical in our DNA. It’s fun to make a real nature mandala. These are made with models from my garden and watercolor.

Watercolor 8 x 8 work in progress studio shot…

Wildflower wreaths

Flow April 22, 2016

Just trying too hard

Uses so much energy

Life is about flow.

Art Prescription:  Seems this lesson has presented itself multiple times for me this week.

8 1/2 x 11 Watercolor with pen and ink and colored pencil:

Cyclamen 72