Monday, March 30, 2009

A study is a study

Today I worked on a little study of a chickadee
sitting on a coffee cup. The chickadee is a very
tiny bird, and a very difficult bird to get decent
reference on -- so this is not finished, and I'm
looking at it as a sketch. I love chickadees, and
would be delighted if the birds I'm crazy about
would come and sit on my coffee cup -- if it
was empty. I love birds, but I'm a realist.



sketch of a chickadee
acrylic on canvas
8 x8 inches

There is a bird who is known for perching on
sugar bowls. My mother and father were delighted
with them when they were on holiday in Grenada.
The birds, called sugarbirds, or bananaquit
would come to their breakfast table on their hotel
balcony, and try to eat the sugar meant for their coffee.

But anyone who knows chickadees knows they won't
do that. They are a shy bird.

Have a going-wild-about-birds day.

6 comments:

Maike Josupeit said...

Hi, Barbara
Can´t wait to see it finished. I love your vivid colors and the composition, too.

Liza Hirst said...

Sweet! A good beginning!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Maike,

Thanks so much. I do hope it works out.

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

I'm off to the library tomorrow, or maybe the park to get more reference.
Thanks for your encouragement.

xoxoxoxoBarbara

r garriott said...

I love your little birds! And, it's just my opinion, there is no such thing as 'too bright'.

(I sent you an email, check your spam if it doens't get through to you.)

Your comments on the color red are interesting... I suppose there are people who don't like red. On the other hand, I had one buyer in particular who bought a half dozen or more of my paintings over several years, and everyone single one of them had 'her' red in it-- (cadmium red light, really) I quickly learned to always include something Red for her.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi R,

I've never had trouble selling something red, I've just noticed that some people don't like bright colours. I'm not one of those people.
My usual palette is pretty heavy on the primaries. I love flowers and many of the flowers I love are very bright -- even red. That must be what made me love bright colours, and your paintings. Because I do love your work. Beautiful.

Take care,

Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!