This painting was a commission for a couple who had fond memories of hiking through the local wetlands
Egrets Flying Low
Egrets Flying Low 16” x 20” acrylic on wood panel
No matter how often I see Snowy Egrets flying low over the water it is always magical.
Summer Sierra Birding
Summer Sierra Birding 12” x 24” acrylic on canvas
Each June my husband and I take a birding trip to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This painting grew out of sketches I made after a magical hike near Yuba Pass where highlights included White-headed Woodpeckers, Western Tanagers, Hermit Warblers and MacGillivay's Warblers. It was a memorable day.
California Quail in the Summer
Quail in Summer 10” x 20” acrylic on wood panel
Seeing quail run across the path makes me smile. This week I am working on paintings of quail against dry vegetation.
Wilson's Snipe
Wilson’s Snipe 10” x 20” acrylic on wood panel
We were lucky to come across several groups of Wilson’s Snipe last winter. They have so much personality and begged to be painted.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk 10” x 20” acrylic on wood panel
I was inspired by this bird soaring low through the Sycamore branches. Later I discovered he had been collecting nesting material.
American Kestrel Painting
Kestrel Flight 12” x 12” acrylic on wood panel
I watched a kestrel take off from a sycamore branch and was inspired by the way the colors of the falcon mirrored those of the dry leaves and blue sky.
Green Heron
Green Heron Posed 12” x 12” acrylic on wood panel
Every time we come across a green heron I’m inspired to work on another painting. This one was on a bank in willows.
Anna's Hummingbird Chase
Anna’s Hummingbird Chase 20” x 10” acrylic on wood panel
I was inspired by watching these hummingbirds dashing through purple sage.
Night-Herons Lurking
Black-crowned Night-Herons 16” x 16” acrylic on wood panel
I love painting Night-Herons - they can seem so sinister. These three are lurking and watching.
Spotted Towhee
Spotted Towhee 10” x 20” acrylic on wood panel
A Spotted Towhee has been hanging out in our yard under wild grape vines. It was such a treat to watch him foraging.
Lesser Goldfinch Trio
Lesser Goldfinch Trio, 8” x 8” acrylic o wood panel
The thistles are turning brown and attracting flocks of lesser goldfinch. This is one of my favorite motifs to paint.
California Thrasher
California Thrasher 8” x 8” acrylic on wood panel
The poison oak has turned a wonderful red and last month we came across this California Thrasher feeding on the berries.
House Wren
House Wren 6” x 6” acrylic
This was a little color study to suggest hot summer days.
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron 8” x 8” acrylic
I’ve painted a lot of Night-Herons resting but this is the first painting I’ve tried where I'm imagining one hunting.
American Bittern
American Bittern 8” x 8” acrylic on wood panel
We were lucky enough to see this bittern out in the open last month and he begged to be painted.
Orange-crowned Warblers
Orange-crowned Warblers
Now that they are quiet it’s hard to find these Orange-crowned Warblers.
Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle, 8” x 8” acrylic on wood panel
I imagined a Golden Eagle on a high perch surveying his world.
Allen's Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird & Bird of Paradise, 8” x 8” acrylic on wood panel
I couple month ago I spotted a hummingbird perched on a bird of paradise flower just outside the living room window.
White-headed Woodpecker Painting
White-headed Woodpecker, 8” x 8”, acrylic on wood panel
This is the finished painting which I developed from the sketch I posted previously.