Studio

A few more of the little 5"x5" paintings I've been making.  They are fun little bird and color studies.  The first is a Jackdaw from this summer's trip to Europe and the second a Northern Pintail, which is still one of my favorite ducks.

Something To Do On The Couch

An Interest in Cows

My sister one time asked me, as we were traveling through Cameroon, why I was so interested in cows.  I believe the question came up because I kept making us stop so that I could photograph the herds of cattle we saw.  Or maybe I was just bemoaning the fact that we didn’t stop for cattle photos because I can’t remember seeing any the last time I went through the photo album.  At any rate, I told her that they presented a different kind of texture in the landscape.  (They also had cool long horns.)  

The truth is I take pictures of just about everything.  Trees, tree bark, fungus on trees, fungus other places, cactus, buildings, people, and birds to name a few of my recent faves.  Birds are particularly fun to photograph and offer awesome textural variety to the landscape.  By now the pintails feel common to me but I still love their sleek design and stunning beauty.  I also love the fact that they stay relatively still and close enough for my 300mm lens.  

Loving Ducks, A Thing for Pintails

I'd never seen a Northern Pintail until my first trip to Edwin B. Forsythe NWR in November. In fact it's only been a little while since I realized that all ducks were not the same. An exciting discovery that I haven't been able to develop much, until now. Because at this reserve I can actually SEE the ducks. (It seems like they are always hiding out of site everywhere else.) I was so excited to see my first Pintail. Each time I return to the NWR I see more of them. They are so beautiful and funny.