"Southern Beauty"
|
|
|
Isn't spring the best? The earliest blooms have come and gone (like the magnolias, painted above), replaced in my yard by blue iris, red columbine and pink peony blossoms, to name a few. Everything is sprouting! |
|
|
Blossoms, Birdlife, and the Bright Side of Entering Shows! |
|
|
Nesting.
This nest box was purchased specifically for Bluebirds, so at first I tried to deter these Eurasian Tree Sparrows from taking up residence (I have another nest box that they already occupy every year!). Several times I removed their nesting materials from the box, but finally my sympathy (and guilt) got the best of me, and I've allowed them to remain. Plus, they are pretty adorable, aren't they? |
|
|
Singing.
With perfect timing, I watched this chickadee singing his song, presumably for a mate (not to be confused with the usual chick-a-dee-dee-dee call that we hear so often). I've seen these little birds checking out nesting cavities, so I think he was successful in pairing up! |
|
|
Visiting.
This tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet was foraging in my Hawthorne tree one afternoon. Again, my timing was perfect as I watched and photographed him for several minutes before he disappeared, heading north for the summer. |
|
|
Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. ~Mary Oliver |
|
|
Courtship feeding.
Ok, so I've been bird-watching a lot lately, which has helped with the "perfect timing" I've mentioned, but I've also learned to recognize when these behaviors are about to happen! I was thrilled to capture the male House Finch feeding his female companion. |
|
|
Sowing.
Yes, birds are sowing seeds! I had originally planned to move this feeder out of my flower bed for the summer, but have since decided to leave it there filled with sunflower seeds.
Why? Because as the American Goldfinches (and other birds) feed on one of their favorite foods, in their messiness they are sowing sunflower seeds below.
I will let the seedlings grow into sunflowers rather than pulling them out with the other weeds. Can you see the little sunflower sprout behind the female goldfinch (above right)? |
|
|
"Summer's Bounty 2"
|
|
"Summer's Bounty 1"
|
|
|
In a few months when the sunflowers are mature, the birds will come back to harvest and I can take more photos!
Paint. Love. Repeat. |
|
|
None of us know what will happen. Don’t spend time worrying about it. Make the most beautiful thing you can. Try to do that every day. That’s it. ~Laurie Anderson |
|
|
Good News! (aka The Bright Side of Entering Shows!) |
|
|
"Help Yourself"
|
|
|
Help Yourself was selected for inclusion in Michigan Water Color Society 77th Annual Exhibition by Juror Stan Kurth. |
|
|
"Puppy Love 3"
|
|
|
"Sunshine and Lemons"
|
|
|
Both my paintings, Puppy Love 3 and Sunshine and Lemons, were selected as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the March 2024 BoldBrush Painting competition.
|
|
|
"Under the Noonday Sun"
|
|
|
I was over the moon when I received the notification that my painting Under the Noonday Sun received the Lucille J. “Lucija” Dragovan Memorial Award in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America’s 47th Annual Exhibition! |
|
|
Click the buttons below if you'd like information regarding my in-studio Next Level Watercolor classes, One-On-One Mentorship program, or to schedule a Studio Visit. |
|
|
Bird Lover's Journal.
For years I've wanted to create a bird-themed perpetual calendar/journal, and now it's here! Click the button below for more information. |
|
|
Thank you for reading my newsletter;
I'd love your feedback!
If you know of someone who might appreciate this content, please share!
Your friend in art and life,
Janine
©2024 Janine Helton - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
| |
|
|
