Welcome Spring Watercolor

I don't know...this maybe hopeful wishing because there is still snow on the ground, but today I felt inspired to paint this picture from earlier this month.....



Remember this post on "evidence of spring"?
Now in my painting, I used my artistic license and made the female sparrow larger and the birdhouse a little smaller, removed the wood fence background, and added nice watercolor drip marks representing rain for the spring season.
Oh it's so much fun to paint!

This watercolor painting is called "Welcome Spring" and will be on display at the LaGrange Art Gallery on March 31 through May 2nd 2008. If it does not sell, it will be made available after May 4th on Christine Kane Art.

I have taken on a part time job as a newsletter editor as well as holding down my full time job. This may cause me less time on the computer as I am realizing there are too little hours in a day! Posting may decrease, I hope everyone understands.
Thank you!

How Now Brown Cow

Remember that phrase? I say it every time I see an ordinary plain jane (or joe) brown bird. Now, I love my sparrows, so a "how now brown cow" greeting is a term of endearment.
Look at his plump little birdie body...


Isn't he the cutest? Well fed indeed! When he realized a human was taking his picture, he became timid and flew in the pine. Maybe he's a birdie celebrity and doesn't want me to sell his picture for millions to the National Enquirer?


Or...maybe not. He's still cute at a distance. He still thinks I'm weird.

Evidence of Spring

Here in Chicago we were cruelly teased with a bit of spring like weather yesterday. With temperatures souring to 53ºF and a much needed appearance from the sun...sure enough I thought spring was on its way!
"Not quite that fast!" Winter said.
Temperatures are plummeting as we speak with 3" of snow on it's way once again to blanket the ground tomorrow.
Now, I love snow and all, but when I saw this.......


I thought surely the birds know! The birds know spring is here somewhere!
This is a female sparrow on the birdhouse in my backyard. Notice the material in here beak. That birdhouse raised 3 broods of sparrows last summer. It was very exciting to watch them all grow. I felt like grandmother sparrow.


Peek-A-Boo...I still see you!


Here is Papa, he was cleaning the last bit of debris from the house. What a good man he is! I love the sprawl of his tail feather and his heart shaped back...no doubt he is demonstrating his labor of love.