Wednesday, July 9, 2014

GOLDFINCHES



Taking Val Webb's online course Birds in Watercolor and Beyond, has taken me back to my own enjoyment of our backyard birds.  The weather has cooled a bit so I can sit out in the sunroom in the early morning after replenishing the feeders and watch all my feathered friends come for breakfast :)

This one, in my sketchbook, is a male juvenile goldfinch.  He was pretty ratty looking and his feathers all ruffled, so I think he was a juvenile - wasn't as smooth and bright as the adult males.  We have one who is so handsome, I can't stop taking his photo.  He loves the new finch feeder and keeps a close eye on 4 ladies (!!) who come for breakfast and dinner each day.  He's a real gentleman, though, letting them all have their fill of the seeds first (there are only 4 posts at the finch feeder) and then he eats.  I'll download some photos from this week and share later.  

I also saw a recent video of Cathy Johnson showing you how to draw and paint birds - in the field but using photos for her demo.  I'll find that and post a link, too.  I haven't watched it all, as I just found it this morning, but it looks good.  Cathy is a well-known and very talented artist who has many online courses and books on drawing and painting natural subjects.  





9 comments:

Sadami said...

Hi, Rhonda, your post and work always bring us joy and seeds for thoughts. Thank you so much! I look forward to your birds and ... the ongoing love?! story at a backyard. Cheers, Sadami

Autumn Leaves said...

Your drawing is super exquisite, Rhonda! Will you add watercolor? (You may have said so, but I've forgotten when the screen flipped to the comments page! LOL)

PaintedSouvenirs said...

You're so creative, Rhonda!I love all your posts!

Studio at the Farm said...

Rhonda, this is a lovely drawing! And I loved reading your story about the "Gentleman Goldfinch".

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

Taking a break (at last) and perusing your past posts. Lots of spark going on :) Love your new blob banner. And, for this post... great capture. Can it be you are utilizing your S&B journal?

Debbie Nolan said...

Rhonda - your bird sketch is wonderful...I have such trouble sketching them from life...I seem to always need a photo. I too enjoy seeing Cathy Johnson's work...she certainly will inspire us but so do you! Have a beautiful weekend.

Barb Sailor said...

Love your drawing...I also enjoyed Cathy's video - I love reading her daily musings on Facebook, also.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks so much, Sadmi, Sherry, PaintedSouvenirs, Kathryn (we do anthropomorphize all the wild animals, don't we?)! Love your remarks and they made me smile!

Thanks, Pam, always good to hear from you. I saw the big fat golden moon last night and thought, "Will Pam paint this one?" Funny how we have touched each other's lives by these blogs and our art :)
Thanks, Debbie, I did sketch this from a photo but I think I might be able to do it from life since they keep the same positions at the feeder for a while now :)
Thanks, Barb, Cathy has inspired so many to do sketching and painting over the years. I have still refused to join FB - I may be the only curmudgeon who has a blog who says no to FB! ha ha

http://carolking.wordpress.com said...

I like hearing about your workshop and your goldfinch is terrific.