ALMOST THE END OF APRIL

Holding On


A windy day crow.  Almost the end of April.  Sorry, I missed yesterday but having migraines and, probably, allergic reactions (sinus headaches and pain) to all the pollen right now.  It is crazy!!!


At least one more to come to finish the month off, then I'll get the information together on all the paintings.  Then you can choose your favorite (which will be your entry into the give-away for May of one painting - hopefully, you'll win your favorite!).  

CAPTURED THE MOON

Captured the Moon





We're getting towards the end of April and the Crow Challenge for myself will be over. 

Then I'll repost all of the paintings with information about size, what paper they are on, etc.  Then we can have a give-away based on who wants one and wants to enter the give-away (I guess I'll do a random number drawing to see who wins and there will be more than 1 winner).  I'll send out the rules when all the crows are done :)  

CROWS HUNTING EASTER EGGS

Well, it was Easter and I was thinking about Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs - so I wondered if crow families hunt Easter eggs in the field?  


This one is on 7 x 10 inches Arches 140# rough paper.  And calling it

Found One!

SING OUT

On Stonehenge Aqua hotpress 140# paper






Sing out, Sister!

STILL PAINTING CROWS? YEP!

Painted on Stonehenge Aqua 140# hotpress paper.  Watercolor, fluid acrylic, playing.



The High Wire Act 

SHE SELLS

A sea shell drawn to practice observational skills.  


I had a set of calipers at one time, but can't find them anywhere to help me measure.  But not too bad on this one - a bit here and there until I build up more shape and shadow.  A fine natural illustration artist could make this seem like 2 shells sitting there on the paper, but I'm not there yet.

DRAWING

As part of the Natural History Illustrator's Course online I'm taking, I am trying to get out the graphite pencils and paper and draw more.  But also to make myself slow down, take my time, and do a little at a time (if I go too long or do too much, I just ruin it and stop looking while just making marks).  So...here's a beginning of a crow's talon/foot.  I want to try to get it right but I swear I want to just put it aside and paint something like it instead!  I must have been hiding behind the door when they handed out patience!

The paper is a dull warm white so it does look like this and I'll continue to share as I struggle along - if you can bear it!  This is just the first and second step, and you can see how messy I am when using graphite or charcoal (I get it all over my hand, arm, and the paper - I should put something down over the paper but never remember to do that).  

Oh, well.  I know I don't have the determination to put down all that leathery bit under the  talons but might hint at a few...
  

NO. 7 WITH NO. 6?

On Stonehenge Aqua 140# hotpress paper (I like that stuff!).  Drew the main crow, then did the stamp of the crow (I carved this myself a few year's back) using fluid acrylic.  Next = splattered with misket and watercolor all over (covered the stamped crow before doing that).

Now...where to go with this one?

NUMBER 6

Stamp, fluid acrylic on Stonehenge Aqua 140# hotpress.  This is going to be part of a larger painting - but I'll show you that other part soon.


I signed up for an online drawing course through a university in Newcastle, Australia - it's called Natural History Illustration and goes into observational drawing (which means slowing down, taking time, looking a lot and measuring, etc.).  I'm not taking it for a grade or certificate (so it's free!) but I will try to follow along (weekly lessons with videos and information). Not sure I have the patience for it, but it won't hurt to try to slow down and look more than draw (or paint). I got turned on to the course from Painted Thoughts Blog by Laure Ferlita and she talks about it here on her blog.  (Thanks, Laure!).

CROW NO. 5

Crow No. 5 on a scrap of Arches 140# rough (?) I think.  It doesn't seem to be coldpress and definitely not hotpress.


Fluid acrylic, stamp, and watercolor.




Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

CROW NO. 4 - ON ARCHES 140# ROUGH

Painted on Arches 140# rough, 7 x 10, using Daniel Smith Shadow Violet and a touch of red (the background stones were done using a new stencil and with black ink). 




Crow No. 4

ON YUPO - CROW NO. 3

As you can see, I got bored with just painting a crow and decided to add the feather stencil and then play with texture in the background just pressing things into the still-wet watercolor there.  What do you think?  


The third crow of April, also on Yupo.  

ON YUPO - CROW NO. 2

This crow is saying, 
What is that thing in the sky??

Oh, yeah, it's the sun.  It's been a while since we've seen much of it here in Kentucky so she's a bit confused.




Second crow of April - on Yupo.  I won't paint them all on Yupo but thought I'd start that way and see where it goes.  I will also do some on my hotpress paper, and maybe even rough Arches.  Or a print, or...so maybe days in April and so many ways to go with the crows.

ON YUPO - CROW NO. 1

Painted on my new Yupo paper pad of papers.  The first crow of April :)




When I first began taking watercolor lessons from Sandy Maudlin in Indiana, we painted on nothing but Yupo paper.  I didn't learn until weeks later (we met once a week) that others painted on watercolor paper! ha ha  She had a lot of grumbling in that class because some people just didn't like the way watercolor and Yupo worked, but I took to it easily and found it fun.  We finally started painting on just watercolor paper, and I didn't return to Yupo for a long time.  But a nice new pad of the "paper" came in the mail, so I thought I'd play a bit and what better way to play than with crows.

Look for more coming this month!  

A MONTH OF CROWS

Going to use my new art supplies and do a month of crows.  
So beginning in April, we'll see how it goes!

One crow for sorrow,
Two crows for joy,
Three crows for a girl,
Four crows for a boy.
Five crows for silver,
Six crows for gold,
Seven crows for a secret never to be told.


How many will I do and what will the secret be?  
Perhaps a give-away to you from me?