Painting in pastel of black capped chickadee and golden aspen in autumn.

I am thrilled beyond thrilled that this fresh new painting of 2016 sold, and before it was ever completed! Since I've  had multiple inquiries about purchasing this chickadee painting, I fully intend on producing limited edition giclee prints so that others can enjoy it as well. And of course, more bird paintings to come in the future!

Photographs of original artwork never do them justice and this one is no exception. I still have to scan and tweak a digital copy to match the original as close as possible but this photo gives you a good idea of the warm soft glowing light shinning through the heart-shaped aspen leaves. So, I aptly named this artwork "Heartwarmer"; I hope you like it! Feel free to share if you like my work! Thanks so much!!

SOLD

"Heartwarmer"

Black-caped chickadee in trembling poplar

approx 8x10

pastel

Private Collection

More work available on my website gallery www.colettetheriault.com

Step 9 of Egret pastel painting

Now that I've completed the feathers on this bird and satisfied enough to leave them alone, I have begun working the foliage. At first, I painted the leaves a yellow green hue that went well with rest of the painting BUT just did not sit well with the frame. I then opted to try a blueish tint which was ok but perhaps a bit to saturated with blue.

After my third attempt (below), I believe this is the best color scheme that will suit both the frame and the rest of the painting. While it is nice to have frames on hand, sometimes, it can be a pain to match them to a particular color scheme in a composition and the artist has to be prepared to make changes along the way. Perhaps  I should have done a sample thumbnail composition first but I was happy experimenting and adapting the color scheme as I was working my way through this painting.

Step 6 Great Egret Painting in pastel

During the last few days, I've been working on making more time-lapse videos of  Pet Portrait Christmas commissions (which I will share in my next post).  Eventually, when this bird painting is finished, I will be making a video clip of it as well.

Later this afternoon, I took some time out to continue working on the wing feathers of the Great Egret. It can be hard to resist the temptation to overwork parts of a painting...which is what I unfortunately felt I was doing today! I think I will leave those parts of the wing feathers and move on to a different section...

Before the day is over, I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year! I plan to create quite a number of personal pieces this year as I get ready for a solo show! 

Step 5 Great Egret Bird Painting work in progress

On this step I have completed most of the bird's long neck feathers. I continue to add dark to medium grey and brown pastel as my under-painting, to created those parts of the white plumage that are darkened by shadows. Stay tuned for more feather painting!!

For those who are curious, the bird is a Great Egret, (Ardea alba), also named the Common Egret, Great White Heron.

Step 4 of Egret bird painting using pastels

I am at the stage now where the bird is starting to pop out of the painting.  The light subject and a dark background creates strong contrast.  Keep watching for more updates!

Egret bird painting work in progress

Now that I've worked most of the background on the left side of the bird, the fun part of adding the main subject can begin!

Although it may be hard to see on this image, I've been adding undertones to the bird's head feathers to give some strong contrast against the white body. Click on the closeup image for a better view.

Cavalcade of Colours show and sale, Onaping Falls, Ontario

There were many, many beautiful entries in this show so I was quite thrilled when I found out my little blue jay painting earned this Honorable Mention Award ribbon! He would make a truly unique and affordable gift for someone special this coming holiday season...please contact me for details.

"Dressed in Blue"

pastel

4x6

Available

New bird painting in pastel on my easel

I've been working on my newest miniature painting which will be part of a triptych. I am mostly using very sharp pastel pencils for this piece as it only measures 4"x3". It is much more difficult to render fine detail in such a tight space but I do love the challenge of creating these little pieces!

Progress on nuthatch bird painting

The pair of red-breasted nuthatches (diptych painting) is progressing well today.  
I have begun to differentiate the two birds at this stage, and you can now see that the male has a deeper rust on his chest when compared to the female on the left.  Another distinct difference is that the male sports a black crown while the female's is dark grey (although the angle of the male's head makes it a little difficult to discern).

A Pair of Nuthatches-bird paintings in pastel

I've just started these two miniature paintings of red-breasted nuthatches tonight using soft pastels. Since both bird paintings share a similar background and color scheme, I've decided it would be easier and quicker to work on them simultaneously.  I also plan to frame them as a diptych...

Peregrine Falcon Painting "The Wanderer" SOLD!

This bird painting will be featured one last time locally at the Sudbury Art Club Spring Exhibit next weekend and then will fly off to Dunham QC to roost in his new home. The general public is invited to this free art event so please do come out if you have a chance! See details below.

"The Wanderer"
Peregrine Falcon
7.5" x 9.5"
pastel
read more info here:
http://www.colettetheriault.com/descriptions/paint1description/peregrine_falcon_painting.php

Song Sparrow: a bird painting in pastel

I have yet to give this painting a title...other than the obvious "bird on a wire", which is too overused for my liking, I'll have to give it some good brainstorming!

Nonetheless, I share with you the final update on the bird painting. I am glad now that I accidently made the wire too large and had to increase the size of the bird. It was much easier to add the detail on the larger format.

Song Sparrow- untitled
13" x 9"
pastel
Available

Pastel Journal's Pastel 100 Competition

Now that the Pastel Journal's April 2013 issue is out on news stands, I can announce that my painting of chickadees entitled "Two's Company" won an Honorable Mention Award in the 14th Annual Pastel 100 Competition.  I was pleasantly surprised and quite honored to have my piece selected amongst over 3000 entries from around the globe and claim a spot amongst the top 100 paintings!

If you have a chance to purchase/view a copy of the Pastel Journal, you will not be disappointed!

To read more about the journal and the competition, you can visit www.pasteljournal.com

Heron legs and more...

My favorite part of this painting has to be the bright orange sunlit legs of the little green heron as  I don't get to use orange very often! They are such beautifully feathered birds and those legs turn bright orange as the birds mature. Splendid little birds.

Bird Painting update

You should be able to recognise this falcon now that his head is almost complete.I am using pastel pencils on ochre colored suede board.

New Bird Painting work in progress!

The beginings of a waterfowl painting are taking shape on this suedeboard. I am using mainly pastel pencils to draw the detail of this strange looking bird. Watch for more updates to come soon!

A few more touch ups??

I decided to add the leaves at the bottom as I felt it might frame the subject rather nicely and further enhance the back lighting. However, I'm still contemplating changing the shape of the lighter blurred out leaves to the left of the egret's beak...something doesn't seem right to me there. I'll need to put this painting aside for a bit and back away until it speaks to me that it is finished or that I need to touch it up.

Almost done!

Creating feathers using pastel on sandpaper remains a challenge for me...I'll probably go over the right wing and rework it since I'm not totally satisfied with it. I feel like I am overworking this painting at this stage now and wish it were done!! I can barely add any more layers of pastel on the bird so a light coating of fixative is in order.

Once I'm satisfied with the bird, I still have a bit of greenery to add near the bottom to break the monotony of the background (and add some interest).

A little more progress...

The progress on this bird painting seems to be much slower in the studio today as I am trying to capture the shadowing and correct coloration on the body. Perhaps due to my body being sluggish after a night of celebrating on New Year's Eve despite still having the remnants of a head cold. All that histamine rushing in my bood kept me awake for most of the night which probably did not help! A few nights' rest and I'll be back to normal.

I still have a bit more defining and touch ups to do to the body and wings before I get to start adding the rest of the beautiful feathery plumes.

Last post of 2010

To all my followers and visitors I thank you for joining me this past year on my blog and I wish you all the health, prosperity and creativity for 2011! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! And to my artist friends, I'm looking forward to seeing your new works so keep on painting and drawing!!


Before I leave to celebrate the New Year's with my family, I'd like to share one more update on the progress of the bird in pastel. He will be my first priority of 2011 and I'm looking forward to revealing the finished product upon my return to the "studio".

Have a safe celebration everyone!

Cheers,
Colette