Day 9 - Ms. Redbird 2

"Ms. Redbird 2", 5"x7" watercolor

Finally found a good photo of the lady cardinal, and quickly dashed this out.  I was also working on a much larger painting of one of the egrets I did this week, which I will share tomorrow!

Day 8 - "Ms. Redbird"

"Ms. Redbird" 7"x5" watercolor

The Cardinal is the state bird of my home state, North Carolina, so I always enjoy seeing them come to visit, it reminds me of home.  This one was hanging out at the feeder last weekend and was so feisty, she was chasing all the other birds away, even challenging the larger red-wing blackbirds.  She got plenty, and kept coming back for more!
It was a very overcast day when I took the reference photos, she was a very dull olive, with just hints of red, but had the most amazing crest!

Poppy Mood

Sometimes, I can't sleep.  Last night was one of those nights.  I finally got up and wandered into the room where I keep my paints and gazed at the messy painting I did last weekend of pink flowers, and I couldn't wait to pick up my brushes again.  I got a bit messy and splattery, but when I I was finished, I was ready to try sleeping again, which finally came to me about 3am.  This one is bright and cheerful, with its five shades of red in each flower!

14"X11", watercolor on 140# paper

Day 29 - Crossvine

These vines are supposed to be hummingbird magnets, but I haven't seen that myself.  The flowers just glow at the edge of the woods, though!  Got the reference photo just the other day, and the flowers were so striking that I couldn't wait to paint them.

7"x5", Watercolor on 140# paper.

Day 23 - Hurricane Lilies

These gorgeous flowers pop up in the fall after we have a good rain or two, thus the name 'Hurricane Lilies,' also known as spider lilies. They have a bright scarlet color that seems to glow in the landscape.  A friend has over 100 stalks in her yard this year.  I may trade her a painting for a bulb or two!

5"x7", Watercolor on 140# paper.

Day 15 - Red Camellia

Before I moved to south Alabama, I had never seen camellias that not only survived, but thrived throughout the winter.  We have two species here, one that blooms in the fall to early winter and the other which blooms late winter into early spring.  They are both lovely, with various shades of deep red to pure white, and some are variegated.  My challenge with this one was suggesting the light coming through the petals.

5"x7", Watercolor on 140# paper

Day 14 - Blood-Red Hibiscus

Red seems to be a popular hibiscus color - so one more!  I think I have an orange on the drawing board as well, somewhere... 

5"x7", Watercolor on 140# paper.