Haemorhous mexicanus

I frequently see House Finches at my bird feeder so I am able to observe them and collect a few photos if I'm lucky. At least they don't come and go quite as quickly as the Chickadees! I made a few sketches to help me with my next painting.

Nightfall - Prints of the Dark Hours

Recently I visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Art in Richmond, Virginia and was excited to discover an exhibit of prints called "Nightfall - Prints of the Dark Hours". I've always liked images of the night with the contrast between light and shade and atmospheric affects from the available light. Nocturnes - images of the the night! Here are a few that I found interesting. They really inspire me to do more etchings!

illustration from novel Figures and Grimaces, 1926
woodcut

Gene Koss
Christmas Eve - Taos Pueblo, 1946
drypoint, aquatint

Alphonse Legros
Effect du Soir, late 19th
etching, aquatint,  drypoint

Bill Jacklin
After the Event I, 2000
etching, aquatint, engraving

James McBey
Santa Maria della Fava, 1926
etching, drypoint

Amin Landeck
Pop's Tavern, 1934
drypoint, aquatint

Gene Koss
Christmas Eve - Taos Pueblo, 1946
Drypoint, aquatint

THAT'S IT!!
C'EST TOUT!!
:-)

Merry Christmas

May your Christmas be joyful and your New Year be full of peace and.....new adventures!

Small Works Exhibit 2015 - Charles Taylor Art Center

Every year the Charles Taylor Art Center in Hampton, Virginia has a small works show (works must be 4" x 5" or less) that many of our local artists participate in. Here are a few works that I found interesting.

Strawberries in Crystal by Beverly Abbott
oil painting
It was in a glass case so the reflections don't help but I love it!

Artist Petya Eutimova-Ivanova
oil on wood

Artist Ken Milan

My Kingfisher paintin,g in the middle, with the other birds in the show

My pastel of The Sleeping Gypsy

I liked just about all of my projects in my art classes but this one especially amused me. We were asked to draw ourselves in works of famous artists, our choice. I always liked the works of French artist Henri Rousseau and knew of his oil painting La Bohmienne endormie (The Sleeping gypsy, 1897) and decided that it could work for me. I used pastel instead of oil painting. I think it's close to 2' by 3'. 
Anyway, maybe it will amuse you too. Or maybe it will inspire you to look for and enjoy Rousseau's painting!

Les Parfums de Rosine - Paris

Another little drawing from my workshop in Paris last year.