Sketching in nature when it's 10 degrees sometimes works best from a window! These starlings, imports from Europe, have adapted well in a couple of hundred years--they seem to be everywhere! Smart and adaptable, in winter they're usually warming their toes on our neighbor's chimney. (You can click on the image to see it larger, in my Flickr.)
Seen close up, they've got a lovely metallic sheen, and at this time of year are speckled with lighter dots.
Good old Wikipedia's got more on these interesting birds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starling and more here at All About Birds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/european_starling/id
That's a familiar sight! We get so many starlings here, though not at this time of year for some reason. I really like the simple line drawings of the branches in the foreground. That looks so much like my roof, dormer, chimney, and the tree by my house that I could almost think you were painting that from my neighbor's house.
ReplyDeleteI live in an old Victorian neighborhood, Melissa, and MOST of the houses have been added to over the decades...that's the case with my neighbor's house, and with my own! Gives them charm, doesn't it!
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ReplyDeleteIt does give them charm and would be interesting to journal about. Ours is a 270 year old Dutch Huguenot house and has some fascinating history. You;ve given me another jounraling idea. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your posts on starlings and finches, such delicate sketches
ReplyDeleteWho hasn't seen that scene before? Nice work! I like the perspective view you've taken with this piece...like you have just walked out from the front porch or out from the house door, and looked back and up and saw the visitors. Nice feel to this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, all! Melissa, that would be a WONDERFUL subject to journal about! I did a lot while in the earlier stages of rehabbing the house next door...it's the same age as this one, built around 1899. Fascinating seeing the add-ons, layers of wallpaper, types of flooring...
ReplyDeleteLovely, free sketch Kate. And the starlings are such opportunists, aren't they? I'm familiar with the Glossy Starlings (and the Red-winged Starling), have never seen them in the spotty stage...
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