Mountain Bluebird ACEO in acrylics

I have had this one printed out for ages to paint.  The main reason that it has taken me so long to paint it, it because I wasn't sure if I would be able to get enough variation in colours so it didn't end up looking flat and lifeless.  I ended up using  a combination of Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue and Prussian Blue which worked rather well.

Mountain Bluebirds across Western North America and as far North as Alaska. The range between 16 - 20 cm in length and weight around 30 grams.

Mountain Bluebird measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches Watercolour Paper.

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Many thanks to Dave Slaughter for the reference photo.

Red Bellied Woodpecker ACEO in acrylics

I really enjoyed painting this one - it all just seemed to come together.  I thought the pattern on its wings would be a problem but I actually painted the white markings first and then just went around with the black - worked rather well.  I am rather pleased with the end result. 

Red - Bellied Woodpeckers breed across Southern Canada and the north -eastern United States.  They can be found as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas.  The most prominent red part is its head plumage so the name Red Bellied Woodpecker is a bit misleading.


Red - Bellied Woodpecker measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

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Many thanks to Rodney Campbell for the reference photo.

Cruising the Canals in watercolours

This one was fun to paint.  It brought back memories of  my holiday to the UK many years ago.  I loved cruising the canals and just watching the beautiful landscape pass by.

All my Christmas shopping is done - thank goodness.  Shops were hectic as usual.   Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Cruising the Canals measures approx. 10 x 8 inches and is painted on 300gsm rough Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Elaine Cross for the reference photo.

Humming Bird ACEO in acrylics

This one was fun to paint.  I did have to paint it twice though.  First time round I wasn't happy with the neck feathers - they just looked to flat and lifeless - tried fixing them but in the end I decided to start again.  Much happier with them the second time around.

Humming Bird measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Jennie Norris for the reference photo.

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Puerto Rican Tody ACEO in acrylics

I enjoyed painting this one.  This birds are found on Puerto Rica Island. It is known locally by the locals as San Pedrito which means Little Saint Peter.  They have an average body length of 11cm and weigh about 5 - 6 grams.

Puerto Rican Tody measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Ron Knight for the reference photo.

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Double Eyed Fig Parrot in Acrylics

I was a bit worried painting this one as there was a lot of green.  It was  interesting painting the green figs to stand out again the  the green feathers.  I find that Ultramarine Blue and transparent yellow mixed together makes a lovely green.  I am rather pleased how it turned out in the end.

Double Eyed Fig Parrots are Australia's smallest parrot being on average around 14 cm in length.  They are found down the east coast of Australia from Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales. They are also found in New Guinea. 

Double Eyed Fig Parrot measures 6 x 4 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to James Niland for the reference photo.

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Country Stroll in watercolours

I have had this one printed out for a while to paint but couldn't decide on what medium. Finally settled on watercolours.  Was rather fun to paint.  I am thinking of painting a few more watercolours as I enjoy painting the watercolour landscapes and I have quite a few  reference photos that I can use that would suit the watercolour medium.

Country Stroll measures 7 x 5 inches and is painted on 300gsm Arches rough watercolour paper.

The painting is available for purchase from my Etsy shop.  To view the listing, please click here.

Many thanks to Elaine Cross for the reference photo.

Autumn River in acrylics

I finally got around to painting this landscape.   I painted this one a bit differently - painted the whole panel with the blue sky colour first.  Once that was dry, I painted in the dark green forest and then once that had dried I stippled in the autumn foliage colours using a deerfoot stippler - this brush is great for foliage. Then I just painted in the water reflections and added the rocks.  Rather pleased how it turned out in the end.

Autumn River measures 6 x 4 inches and is painted on canvas board.

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Many thanks to Kathy Detweiler for the reference photo.

Blue Tit in acrylics

The panels I ordered arrived last week so I decided to try them out by painting this lovely bird.  I have had it printed out for a while but was waiting for a 8 x 6 inch panel.

I rather liked painting on the surface so will have to try them out with oils - just have to decide on what to paint - thinking of painting an animal for a change. 

Blue Tit's are found across Europe and Western Asia.

Blue Tit measures 8 x 6 inches and is painted on Raymar's Feather Light Smooth Portrait Cotton 1/16"  panel.

Many thanks to Kev Chapman for the reference photo.

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European Robin ACEO in acrylics

So next is the European Robin which I always love painting.  They range in length from 12.5 to 14 cm so are about half the size of the American Robin.  I actually have another one to paint but it will be in oils.

European Robin measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Gary Jones for the reference photos.

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American Robin ACEO in acrylics

I decided to paint both an American Robin and an European Robin.  So first up is the American Robin.  It is found across Northern America and was named after the European Robin because of the reddish - orange breast but they are not closely related.  The America Robin is part of the thrush family whereas the European Robin is part of the flycatcher family.  The American Robin ranges in length from 23 to 28 cm and the average weight is around 77 grams.

American Robin measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches Watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Rita Morgan for the reference photo.

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Country Track in watercolours

I have been wanting to paint another watercolour landscape for ages so finally got around to painting one.  I changed the reference photo a bit - added the flowers and created a field on the right hand side (was just dense trees foliage in the reference photo). Also thought about changing the fence to run alongside the track but in the ended left it as is.  Rather pleased how it turned out - the clouds were a happy accident - was going for  different effect but I wasn't happy how it was going so ended up lifting paint with paper towel and my clouds were suddenly formed.

 Country Track measure 10 x 8 inches and is painted on 300 gsm rough Arches watercolour paper.

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Many thanks to Steve Lyddon for the reference photo.

Flame Robin in acrylics

I loved painting this one.  Everything just seemed to work and I am really pleased with the result. 

I have found another reference photo of a butterfly.  This time a American Lady.  I have painted the background so will paint the butterfly in the next few days. 

Also, I ordered a few Raymar 6 x 8 canvas panel to try out and they should arrive next week.  Just want to try them before placing another order for panels.  The Raymar panels are a lot lighter than the Ampersand Gessobord panels, are available in a few different sizes and come in packs of 10 so I am looking forward to trying them out. 

Flame Robin measures 6 x 4 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Patrick Kavanagh for the reference photo.

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Eastern Yellow Robin ACEO in acrylics

I really enjoyed painting this one.  Love the angle of its head.   Rather pleased how it turned out.

Eastern Yellow Robin measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300 gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to James Niland for the reference photo.

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White Eyed Vireo ACEO in acrylics

This little songbird is found in eastern and southern United States.  They are about 11 - 13 cm in length.  An interesting fact is that they bath by rubbing themselves again wet foliage.

White Eyed Vireo measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on 300 gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren for the reference photo.

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