Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in October--Vickie Henderson

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are striking birds, especially the males with their black and white markings mixed with a splash of rose on their breasts.  They visit Tennessee mostly during migration in both spring and fall. The exciting thing about fall is the juveniles are still changing their "paint".  

Like birdy watercolors, each one is unique as their feathers morph from juvenile brown to the brightly colored markings of an adult.  Not a single two of them are alike!  The sketch above was created after observing my feeders for about an hour on my porch.  In the rain!  Full of fun surprises, including a shy juvenile grosbeak.  Being still in nature observing brings so much wonder and inspiration. Naturally that makes me want to sketch and paint!

Visit my blog post:  Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Red-breasted Nuthatches and a Hairy Woodpecker at Vickie Henderson Art.  

Revisiting Alaska with Sketches--Vickie Henderson

I recently revisited my photos of Alaska, from a visit in 2012, in particular, my images of the Denali Park grizzly bears.  What a delightful journey back in time.  Looking through the images brought back almost as much awe as I remember feeling when I first viewed it in person.

This was my first sketch, a bear pausing as it foraged for autumn berries.  Autumn in the park was well underway in the tundra the last week of August.  Brought back exciting memories as this was my first experience in the tundra and watching these incredible bears!
Visit my blog post at Vickie's Sketchbook to learn more about this sketching experience.

 

A drawing commissioned for a bird lover turning 85. Three of his favourite birds are positioned around the number 85. The drawing was framed and small copies were used as invitation cards for his birthday celebration. 

I enjoyed the challenge of combining numbers with birds. The number 85 is suggested as wood and I positioned the birds in harmony with the shape of the number. Collared doves live mostly in trees, I therefore placed this bird higher up. Lapwings (left) and oyster catchers (right) are meadow birds. They are elegant birds and it is always a joy to spot them foraging or breeding in meadows.

Notice how the bill of the dove resembles the shape of number five flag. The lapwing on the left and the black-white oyster catcher both stand with their legs on both sides of the number, as if they hold the 85 in position. Both chests of the birds follow the curve of the number five and eight, in case of the lapwing, it takes over the curve of the eight. The dove stands proudly on number five.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

at Etsy & @mindfuldrawing on Instagram
Netherlands

Journal - Nature - #Uskathome

Journal - #Uskathome - Nature - Urban Sketchers of Wilmington - my tiny yard consists mostly of grass, but the wee garden I have provides the 'Nature' I see in what is considered 'my backyard.'

Sketching My Way Around the Links

For years I gave playing the game of golf a go.  I loved the scenery and happened to see a lot of the courses we played with my particular game...  I came to look on golf the same way Mark Twain did - a good walk spoiled. 

Then, the last 5 years I played, I began to bring my sketchbook and watercolor pencils with me.  My husband and I would always play with 2 other men.  I had time to sketch little bits of things when they were on the tee box.  I immersed myself into what I loved and would forget the last lousy shots made.  This practice helped me take 10 strokes off of my game!!!

I no longer play the game, but do join my husband in the cart with my plein air setup.   

These two small studies were started while the foursome finished one hole and teed up on the next.  I finished them from memory as we rode along.  

My little lap desk was purchased at an office supply store.  They also come in a light aluminum.  Their original use is for workers in the field that have forms to store inside.  When closed it acts like a clipboard.  I use blue tack to hold my brushes and small mixing palette.  Lots of clips to hold things in place.  It can be a bouncy windy ride around the courses!

PINE TREE STUDIES

It's been far too long since I posted here as I've been concentrating more on textile art but I thought a catch up from my trees sketchbook might be interesting.  This is a drawing of a part of the bark from my pine tree, done while sitting next to the tree last autumn. 

I had also made a rubbing to try and understand the structure.

Then I made a hand stitched appliqued piece using odd scraps of fabric and yarns, which is now stuck into the book opposite a sketch of the needles.

Journal - Wisteria -- Lin Frye - North Carolina

Journal - Wisteria -- Such a heady, wonderful scent!