Happy Halloween

This little house is situated right across the street from where  a friend of mine lives. I have always liked the little wrap around porch and they keep it real neat. I took a picture one day thinking I might draw it. When I looked at the picture there were some halloween decorations on the door so I thought I would post this today. 

 

I hope you all have a Happy Halloween. Don't forget to brush your teeth tonight.

White M Hairstreak

Sometimes when I read the blogs of people I know I get to see things I have never seen before. This happened last week when I was perusing Sherry's blog Q's Corner. She is a marvelous photographer besides all the other things she likes to do.  Over the years I have been inspired to paint various photos that she has taken.

This past week I saw a photo of a butterfly that she had taken. I couldn't resist painting it. When I finished the painting I wanted to write what it was and realized that I had never seen it before.  It was a White M Hairstreak. I will be on the lookout for it around here in the future.

I want to thank Sherry for letting me use one of her photos. If you would like some inspiration go see some of her fabulous photos here.

EDIT:

I was looking at all of that empty space on this sketch. It bothered me. I hadn't written on the sketch what type of butterfly it was so I added the lettering you see in the following photo. Can one ever leave them alone?? I guess not I.

I hope you all had a good weekend too.

Animal Wednesday - American Redstart

The American Redstart is a beautiful little warbler that is often called the Halloween Bird because of its orange and black feathering. HAW.

I hope you all have a happy halloween.

For more Animal Wednesday go here.

Animal Wednesday - Pileated Woodpeckers

This summer I saw a nest with young pileated woodpeckers hanging out the hole begging for food. I tried a sketch without looking at them and no picture. I was sad I couldln't capture it quite right. Then I was reading _Living Bird_ magazine and voile they had a small photo in there of nearly the same sight I saw. I got busy and tried another drawing. Better but maybe next time I can paint on location with good paper. We can always hope.

Happy Animal Wednesday. For more animal sketches and stories go to Auntie Mim's.

One Single Impression - Paper

Lined, unlined,

colored, white.

Always there

to receive

my thoughts.

Lead, ink,

charcoal, watercolor.

Never resisting

an impulse

to communicate.

One Single Impression's prompt this week is 'Paper'.  Reading all the poetry that was inspired by this made me think about how important paper is to our culture. Certainly in mine.

As artists we adore paper. It allows us to express ourselves no matter what medium we choose.

For more poems go to One Single Impression. 

Animal Wednesday - Cicada on Catalpa Leaf

When my DB was trimming a Catalpa tree he found a cicada clinging to the underside of a leaf. I brought it in last evening to draw it. I knew it was in the throes of death since it didn't budge when I touched it. They don't live long after they are out and about. I noticed it would move it's tail up and down. I wonder if it is a female emitting a phermone or was it just moving?? It startled me once when it moved a little. It's tiny feet skritching across the leaf. It didn't go far. I put it back outside when I was finished.

Happy Animal Wednesday to eveyone.

Happy October

So begins the month of October. For some reason I am so looking forward to this month. A clean slate. New beginings.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend too. Cool weather has finally found us. Ahhh.