If You Love Color...

Do you remember this photo?
I took this last month when I was walking in Tinley Creek Woods. I really love this spot which actually came as a surprise the first time I spotted it. I couldn't see the creek nor hear the creek until I was on top of it. Now, I'm not even really sure this is the official creek of Tinley Creek Woods, because the area is so large.


Inspired to paint this picture, I had a very large dilemma...there is NO color! The scene is very monotone on a cloudy afternoon. Well, I'll just have to create my own color. That's where the fun begins!


Using Wallis Museum Grade pastel paper, I decided to make an under-painting wash to set the mood. I usually block out shapes with pastel and then with a brush and turpenoid (a turpentine without smell), move the color around once wet. Today I decided to make a watercolor under-painting instead of a pastel under-painting because watercolors have such a mysterious look when allowed to do their own thing and I wanted this to show through the final painting.

©2008 Christine Kane Art

Here is the final painting which is titled: "Deep Forest Secret" 16x20 Pastel.
Can you see the watercolor drip marks on the bottom left corner of the painting? That is the watercolor paint showing through. I love it! These drip marks can represent a physical thing like tree roots, or it can convict a feeling like mystery or an oddity, which is what I was aiming for.
I used oranges and pinks which are clashing colors to represent excitement and that is exactly what I felt when I discovered this creek. Now, as you can tell by my photo, I had no color to start with. As an artist you can make up whatever colors you choose. They don't have to be realistic! What's your mood like at the time? How were you feeling? Were you happy, excited, depressed, sad? Let those colors set your mood...it's fun!

"Deep Forest Secret" will be matted and framed and made available at ChristineKaneArt.com in a few weeks.
Hope you enjoy.

Awww...Babies!

Well, I'm a lucky ducky!
During my lunch at work I sometimes sit outside in my car. One particular day, I noticed a female and a male robin take turns returning to a certain pine tree of a lower branch that had fabric or string stinking out.
"What's that?" I asked.
Why it's a nest! Are they feeding babies!?!
Why yes they are.....


Now don't you worry, I did not touch the branch nor the nest when I took this photo. I just stuck the camera in when the parents were away looking for more food! I wouldn't risk it just for a photo.
Let's take a closer look at the robin baby...


Individual wing feathers for us to see. The universe in such order and what a plan, doesn't come by just chance.
Creation.
What a lovely word.

Starling Bully

The starlings have taken over the suet cage. Poor, poor Stella and Henry Woodpecker!
Now that it's spring, the starlings have returned in full force. Gone are the days when I would watch my little woodpecker friends visit every hour to have a snack. The starlings are bullies and scare my poor Stella and Henry downy woodpeckers away. Starlings are large and fight all the time. When battling each other for prime position on the cage, they make this really annoying screeching sound. "Screech, screech, look I'm bigger than you, go away!"
Bullies.
Since I rarely see my woodpecker friends and the suet cakes are disappearing in lightning speed, I'm thinking about repo-ing the cage and maybe replacing it with a nice orange and jelly holder as to try and attract Baltimore Orioles. I'll return the suet in the late fall early winter for my Stella and Henry, when the starling numbers dwindle!

Do starlings like oranges too?

Chivetastic

Look! The chives are beginning to blossom!
I have many chive clumps in my garden, not so much because I can't live without them, but because you can't kill them even if you try, bunnies don't destroy them, and they have a pretty purple flower.
Chives are apart of the onion family and have a real subtle onion flavor. Cut them up with a pair of scissors and put them in salads, dips, or as a potato topping. Yummy.
Now for the fun part....


Oooh, pretty purple flower! Look at all of those individual petals waiting to burst out! Surprisingly this close up was taken in the early evening. I like how the dark green background turned almost black against the flower. I don't know how that happened.
Let's get a closer look.....


Delicate, huh? I can appreciate this flower much more when enlarged this big. This could totally be a huge painting one day, cropped out just like this!
Yes, paint it then eat it!

P.S. Thanks Mom for letting me play with your camera....what a cool toy!
:)

Towhee I Tink

Check out these photos:
Is that an eastern towhee? It was making it's presence known! He was pretty loud.
From my view I almost thought it was a junco, but it was much larger, especially the tail and I clearly saw red around the flank area (under wing but before breast).


Could it be?


Not that an eastern towhee is all that unusual around the Chicago area, but I've never caught one on film.
This little fella was flying in Teason Woods watching me pass on the trail. He was "barking" up a storm, which made me stop and look up in hopes of spotting him.
Spot him I did as well as get his photo!

To be a towhee or not to be a towhee...
I'll let you be the judge!

Springtime Wildflowers

Oh lovely little yellow (I don't know your name) wildflower, how the odds are against you! Choked by those rocks, you would much rather be by the others in the grass. Don't worry, I will step around you as not to do you harm and wish you some luck!
This wildflower/weed growing against the odds gives me strength as I understand it's hardship. Beautiful things come from struggle. I have to remind myself.


Look your friend, Mr. Purple (I don't know your name either) wildflower is having a swell time in his pebbly surrounding, you two have something in common!

If any wildflower/weed specialist can give us a name for these two, it would be like receiving a present! I always appreciate people who are smarter than myself (and there are many of them), to help educate this site!
Thanks ahead!

Duskywings

Isn't he beautiful and so kind to spread his wings for this photo!
After searching in my Butterflies of North America book by Brock & Kaufman, I discovered that this fellow is the Juvenal's Duskywing, typical in the eastern oak woodland. He is definitely a male because the female is much lighter and they typically fly in the spring.
Notice his little white spots on the top portion of his wings. They look exactly like my field guide!

We will name him Duke. Duke Duskywing.
Duke was fluttering on the ground near the steam of Teason Woods (tons of oaks are here). He's quite large, about 3 inches wide and was not shy around me. As you can tell, he let me get quite close!
Thanks Duke Duskywing, hope to see you again!