Winter Black Capped Chickadee Bird Wildlife Painting in Pastels

This little chickadee painting was created last year and was part of my spring solo art show "Drawn to Nature".  The start of the year was a very productive time in the studio as I managed to create 16 new original pieces or art specifically for the exhibit. While this one didn't immediately sell, I was thrilled when contacted recently by a collector who purchased this little treasure.

I'm thinking of featuring this bird artwork on some note-cards which will be for sale in packs of four.

If you missed my exhibit and would like to see it on video, just hop on over to Drawn to Nature video and enjoy!

"Winterlude"

Black Capped Chickadee

pastel painting

5.5"x5.5"

SOLD

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

Pastel bird painting of great egret

I started working on the composition of this painting last year and then had put it aside as I was busy with commissions. It was inspired from a photograph I took while visiting Florida during the spring breeding season. This Great Egret was busy pruning his feathers and long graceful plumes and seemed oblivious to the fact that I was a few meters away snapping shots of him.  

I will be posting a time-lapse video of the work in progress at a later date as I now must get back to those commissions waiting for me in the studio. 

 This painting is now SOLD!

Great Egret

untitled

pastel

9x14

Private Collection

New tropical bird painting in pastels on my easel!

I started working on a new bird painting featuring a tropical species that I photographed in St-Augustine, FL several years ago. I have so many reference photos that sometimes, I want to paint them all and really have a hard time choosing which one to do next.

Working in pastels requires protective framing (which can be expensive!!) and since I already had the perfect frame for this composition,  I decided this was the one!  I hope you enjoy watching the progress of this piece.

Artists For Conservation 2015 Exhibit Book

With anticipation, I finally received the 2015 Nature in Art Exhibit Book from AFC!

This year, my painting of a snowy egret entitled "Angel Feathers" made the cut and was accepted into the online exhibit. It was not available for the live exhibit in BC because the painting sold several years ago, but nonetheless, was chosen and is now published in this beautiful hardcover. I am so very thrilled and honored to be part of such a prestigious organization!

Click on the book page below to read the print!

You can view a better image of the painting by clicking on the images below:

Blue Peacock Miniature Painting in pastel...SOLD!

This is the first in a series of three peacock-themed paintings. Since I have the three matching frames, the paintings will have a similar color scheme.

I'm not sure why blogger drastically changes uploaded images, looks like they are color enhanced as this is nowhere near as vivid as my painting looks like in real life... I have a better representation on my website at www.colettetheriault.com

 untitled

4"x3"

pastel

available for purchase

Red-Breasted Nuthatch bird paintings (diptych) using pastels...SOLD!

I purposefully positioned the male and female on this diptych to face each other while the shape and angle of their bodies and the tree trunks continually lead the eyes to each painting, harmoniously joining the two together (at least that is what I hope to have accomplished).

Nuthatches are acrobatic little birds, often seen going headfirst down a tree trunk or branch looking for food. Breeding pairs are monogamous which means they mate for life.

As you will see from the reference images below, this time, I really broke free from being a slave to a photograph (or two)!  Since I wanted to paint a diptych of a pair of red-breasted nuthaches in breeding plumage, I sifted through my own reference photos and found a suitable one I had taken of a juvenile red-breasted nuthatch (photo on the bottom right).

I had a composition in mind but none of the photos I had taken were suitable for the second painting... my problem was that I did not have any nice downward-facing poses of a  nuthatch.

Then, one day, almost by accident, I found the perfect pose while reading my blog roll! My dear blogger friend, Carol Blackburn, graciously agreed for me to use hers as a guide for my painting (even though the bird she photographed on the left below, was a white-breasted nuthatch)! 

So, as you can see, the female bird has undergone quite a transformation and even changed specie! As for the male bird, he has transformed as well, just not as dramatically...he is all grown up on my painting...the little guy on my photo was not quite mature yet and had not developed his full coloration!

Progress on nuthatch bird paintings

I am quite enjoying painting these adorable little fellas! This is the first time I paint two pieces at once; I work a bit on one bird and before it progresses too far, I switch to the other bird until I've reached a point similar to the first while working the corresponding area on each bird. From my last post, you can see that I started with the background, and then progressed to the birds' heads. This way, I will see both birds emerge at the same time.

Nuthatches are lively, curious little birds, akin to the black capped chickadee.

Blue Jay Bird Painting in Pastel

Painting this bird in blue will give me an excellent opportunity to produce Christmas cards. Along with the similar red cardinal in snow scene that was previously painted, both will be available as cards in the near future.

 

On this last step of the painting, I completed the belly, wing and tail feathers as well as the branch and foot. I redefined more of the pine branches to darken the background a bit more. And voila, here is my "little prince in blue"!

To view more bird, wildlife and animal paintings, visit my website here

"Dressed in Blue" Blue Jay
pastel
4" x 6"
 

Work in progress of blue jay painting

In this step I refined the shape of the Jay's beak and created a three dimensional shape using shades of gray and white on black pastel. After completing the eye and white feathers around the eye and throat, I was excited to finally add some gorgeous blue feathers!

I then defined the black  markings which now gives this bird the unmistakable look of a Blue Jay.

 

On the next step, I will begin to add the background so that I can finish the wispy look of the feathers at the back of the crest.

 

 

With the background complete, I can now redefine outline of the crest feathers.

 

 

New Painting of Bird in Blue

This is the first step on the progress of  my newest small painting of a blue jay in winter. Although blue jays are popular birds to paint and photograph, I had yet to paint this lovely subject. I am using mainly pastel pencils due to the small working space of only 4"x6", but also the square and round sticks for the less defined areas and underpainting.

Painting of Northern Cardinal (male) in pastel

I love painting birds but I find the feathers are a challenge to render with pastels on sandpaper. I am resisting the temptation to go back and tweak a few tufts of cheek feathers as I am never truly satisfied...



"Dressed in Scarlet"
Northern Red Cardinal
pastel
4" x 6"
 Available for Purchase





Winter bird painting on the easel

With winter fast approaching, I am inspired to paint a snow scene. I've always wanted to paint a cardinal and so he is my next subject to be featured on paper. I am using pastels and Wallis sandpaper for this piece and it will measure roughly 3"x5" when done or, perhaps a bit larger.  It is not always easy to create the feather detail on that scale...the image shown is bigger than actual.

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

A slight retouch is in order...

OOPS!! Seems as I was drawing in the barbed wire I made it too large in relation to the bird so now a touch up is in order. Tomorrow, I will continue to work on the bark of the trunk and will have to redraw the bird slightly larger.
It's probably better that way anyways because it will be easier to add the details on a larger bird.

A few bird paintings waiting in the wings...

I want to get a few bird paintings finished in the next few weeks and decided to start one using suede because I can usually complete them faster than on other surfaces. I have another started of an African crowned crane using pastel on sandpaper and I will be working on that one as well.

I have several other paintings that have been started and need to revisit the easel so I can complete them. I hope to get to all of those before summer sets in as I hardly have time to paint then when most of my time is devoted to field work and collecting reference photographs.

The new bird painting below is of a sparrow on a barbed fence wire.

The start of a new bird painting in pastel

I am taking advantage of some free time to start another piece but this time it will involve a scene from Western Africa. As you can see from the reference images, the subject is non other than beautiful crowned crane.

I am totally changing the backdrop for the bird as I didn't like the green grass on the reference photo I took at a sanctuary.  As for the scene,  I am hoping to capture a serene moment at dusk, depicting the lush grassland that make up part of  the bird's native habitat.

This is the first time I am using Pastlemat by Clairefontaine so it will be an interesting exercise.  It is very much like very fine sandpaper but I am realising that very different results are achieved depending on the blending method I use.

 

and tonight's update:

 

Painting of Green Heron in breeding plumage using pastels

The rain and cold has kept me indoors lately and what better time than to finish the bird painting I had started a few weeks ago. With only just the branch left to do, I locked myself in the studio, put on some music (great motivator!) and grabbed my pastels. I may touch up the branch some more before framing the artwork but this little guy is pretty much "hot off the easel"...

Title: "Enchanted Moment"
Green Heron
Medium: Pastel on archival paper
Size: 13.5"x10"

To see more avian artwork, visit my website at http://www.colettetheriault.com/descriptions/paint1description/green_heron_painting.php

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.

Tonight's progress of Green Heron painting

I am really enjoying painting this bird's lovely and colorful plumage. The image scan appears darker than actual which is always a problem when scanning large sections with black pigment. I will be painting more compositions with a black or dark backgrounds because I can achieve a more dramatic effect.