Chicken and Prettybird

Chickens! I have to tell you I am really having fun with this. I have been bringing linoleum block prints into the dress paintings for a few months now. Printing them directly onto the canvas. But the more of this I do, the more I want to do. Now, I'm printing them onto rice paper, and collaging the paper onto the paintings. All these chickens will be in the background of my newest piece, "Good Egg." I've just started it, so I have a way to go, but I'll post when it's done...provided I don't completely mess it up on the way!

But in the meantime, here is a piece that I finished last week, "Prettybird." I love how this turned out, and already have plans for more. The background is a collage of lino block prints, the little yellow bird, ( a pine warbler I think) is painted. And the little halo of seed beads is stitched through the canvas.

A good start to the week!

New Birds

A couple of new birds...

I am having fun with these new birds, the backgrounds are loose and abstract and I love them!

I've spent many years painting pure abstract work, much more of a challenge than you would expect. Making something beautiful and balanced, without having anything representational to "anchor" to is tricky.

But these give me a foot in both worlds, the tightly controlled little birds contrast nicely in both color and style to the backgrounds they sit in. And the dots of color as well as the changes in the top layer of color lead the eye around the composition.

Chatterbox is stitched in cross stitch through the top one, and although the thread looks black in the photo, it's actually a deep greenish brown, mirroring some of the deeper colors in the bird. This bird is a real chatterbox by the way, he or one like him sits on the peak of my studio in the morning and sings a good morning song that can be heard all through the yard!

A female cardinal is the next "bird in the hand" she is currently on the easel, if I get her finished before packing the van for the next show I'll try to put her up. Have a great day!

Nest

Nest is a new, and already sold, addition to my "Bird in the Hand" series. The star is a female cardinal, so unremarkable next to her crimson counterpart. Yet when placed alone on a neutral background, her colors start to sing. Mossy greens, touches of brick red, the same bright red beak as the boys. I placed her on a background of vintage patterns, underscoring the instinctive need to build, create, and fluff up our homes, both for the birds, and us. The polka dot pattern on the glove is actually a scattering of egg shapes, a sign of hope, and faith in the future. You go girl! Nest is 12" square.

Bird in the hand "Chatterbox"

Chatterbox is the newest addition to my "bird in the hand" series. It is 12" square on a gallery wrapped canvas. The background is a pattern made by the repetition of "la la la la." The vintage glove has been painted bright red, to match "chatterbox" which has been sewn through the canvas with embroidery floss. Just as a side note, embroidery floss is catalogued by number, so those who cross stitch patterns will know what color to use where, well DMC, the manufacturer of this floss numbered this color red 666, coincidence? Perhaps they have a sense of humor!?

In any case, the little bird is some variety of wren, I love birds and can pick out a few, but I'm not quite sure on this one. In any case, this little bird has quite a voice, a true chatterbox.

After all the stress of getting ready for, and doing a show, I often arrive back in the studio pretty burned out. I find these small pieces are a good way to get back into the creative swing of things, like a warm up for the next marathon. Well, I'm part way into the next marathon as it were, "Good Egg" is on the easel, I'll post about her soon, perhaps with a few shots in progress!

"Chatterbox has sold, (yay!)