Week 2 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

I am very happy that I have been able to keep with the challenge so far.  Typically I wind up with 28 or so.  This time I am pretty determined to complete the 30.  Fingers crossed please.

These were painted in reverse order

So you will have to look at the paintings from the bottom up…I never thought  

Day 8   “After Christmas”

I loved this snap since the moment I took the photo.  It was fun watching Everett’s confidence grow while on the rocking horse.  At first he was tentative even climbing on it.  His initial rocking was kind of broken and not very smooth.  By the end of his visit, he would climb up like a pro and rock his little heart out.  It was one of his favourite perches to watch Paw Patrol!

Day 9 “Oh Hello There”

Day 10 “Oh I See You”

The elusive and Camera-shy male cardinals are always a challenge to capture in a photo.  They are so self aware they feel the lens of the camera focus on them.  And POOF they are gone.  I had to be really patient to be able to capture reference material that I was able to use

Day 11 “Front and Center”

The female cardinal is no where near as shy or skittish as the bright red male.  She is almost tame in comparison.  He sits high on the pergola and she spends more time at the feeder.  He will fly in, swipe a sunflower seed and take it to a high vantage point to crack and eat. She is a very pretty bird on her own until you see the male!

What surprised me the most, is after I posted this painting, so many people mentioned they have never seen a female cardinal before!

Day 12 “Waiting For My Turn”

There are so many American Goldfinches at the feeders. They seem to come in all at once, to the point where there isn’t room at the feeders for all of them.  And many of them forage on the deck under the feeders. They are delightful. And although  it is still early, I think they are  already starting to get brighter for spring

Day 13 “Surprise Visitor”

One afternoon we looked out at the feeder and much to our surprize we had two male Hairy Woodpeckers.  I stopped to watch them for a few minutes and then the little voice said Helen grab your camera.  So happy I listened. Have a few good reference photos to work with.

Day 14 “On the Ready”

Poor old Sadie. Her stare always seems so intense.  But really, as a hunting dog her stare is typical of her breed.  Always on the ready for a command or to chase something out of the brush. Mark adopted as a senior rescue.  In her previous life she was a puppy mill dog.  She never knew love and kindness before her adoption.