.....things I've seen lately..........

First let me explain where I live.  We live near the river, where it is very flat, and not a many trees. We have a few on the banks of the river, and ocassionaly eagles will be spotted there. 

A lot of fields are farmed in this area, and when they cut hay, your attention often times will be caught by the huge wing span when looking upward.  Usually a bald headed eagle, looking for mice from the newly cut field, and sometimes hawks.


Recently I happened to be looking out the window, and  three black objects, caught my attention. They  were moving across an open field in the distance.   At first I thought it was dogs, but upon closer observation, I noticed that they didn't seem to walk like a  dog.  I found to my suprise it was a momma black bear with two baby cubs in toe.  Very cautiously she moved watching for any pretators.  Her main aim, to get her babies safley across the wide open, down to the river where the salmon are a plenty due to spawning right now. Definatley not a site seen every day.   If I hadn't been so enthralled looking throught the bicnoculars I would have snapped some pictures.  Hind site.  I am so happy to have the privledge of seeing these wonderful creatures, and be in  a perfect place where they can survive in peace,  not having to struggle to leave their homes, and where their seems to be plenty to eat.

 Last week it was raining pretty hard, so out the window in the field behind our house were the herrings, maybe 5 or 6.  I really want to get a snap shot, but the day was dark, and they often come to the fields when it is raining.

The winter birds have arrived, when driving out our Hillybilly road, so I call it, because of all the bumps and lumps in it, I seen some junco's swooping across.  Such an non evasive bird, but nice to see  them dropping by for winter.

.  I love this picture, wonderful work.   You can view more of Steve Gosser's photo's here at his site http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3943124

I really enjoy painting birds, especially the chickadee's.  I love their spring cheet cha cheet song, a little quieter now, that it is not mating season, but you still see and hear them flitting about.  Some other wonderful pictures like this
chickadee dee picture are found here http://www.weforanimals.com/free-pictures/birds/index-birds.htm  

Although we have no cable or hi speed interenet, which can be a pain, I love the bits of nature we encounter. 
I hope you have enjoyed my notes for now on this journey, through life. 
I would love you, to share your comments or thoughts.

Cute Cuddlies (link to critter care)

If your anything like me I am sure you love critters.  All these sweeties are pictures of  the animals from Critter Care, an organization which helps orphaned and injured animals. Their just so sweet!  I had the oppurtunity to go into the pen where the ophaned deer were kept until they were strong enough to be released. I learned their, that deer become tame very quickly, so they try to handle them as least as possible.  Hope you enjoy the pictures of these wonderful creatures.

Composing a design to paint

A wooden stool that has texture applied to the top of it.
I wanted to catch both our pets in this composition. I took one picture of China our petite chow as a puppy, and the other of the kitty Rosie (our adoptie).

Next I wanted to place them in some kind of garden scene. I didn't want that to be the focal, so I painted the hydrangea's in more muted tones. To help connect the two animals together I added a butterfly that they could both view.
I had to change the direction of Rosie's eyes so she was looking at the butterfly. I shadowed around the edge of the stool to frame the picture to help draw your eye into the focal. Their should always be more detail and contrast in the focal area of you painting.