More Bird Feathers

Painting realistic bird feathers can be challenging at best and working with pastels is no exception.  I, for one, have come to realize that I have grown to dislike painting feathers, especially more so after working this piece to death!   I consider this another exercise; one that has forced me to practice something I dislike and truly frustrates me. I hope this bird painting does not find it's way in my "behind the door" pile...

More on the eagle painting...

I have not been able to work on this piece for a few days but it did feel nice to hop in the seat at the easel again. Although it does not look like I have achieved much work on the bird, there is a significant amount of time spent blending and shaping the pastel on the paper; something that simply cannot be rushed.

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Another bird painting on the easel

For my next project, I thought it would be exciting to create a nontraditional composition of a familiar birds' cropped face, close-up.
Many of you might recognize this national iconic bird already, with only just the eye showing. Once again, I am using a variety of pastel pencils on archival sanded paper.