Daily Painting, "Berry Happy Bird"

"Berry Happy Bird"
7X10
Oil on Board
Available
Click on picture to enlarge it.

This is not a Thanksgiving Turkey, however, I think he is a very thankful bird. He landed in a berry laden heaven as I was taking a walking tour of Stowe Botanical Gardens. I took several photos as he hopped around and then he just took this pose which I was lucky enough to catch with my camera. I do not know the type of bird he is, so please email me if you do know and can tell me. For now, he is just a Berry Happy Bird. :-)

Daily Painting, "Berry Happy Bird" In Progress

"Berry Happy Bird"
7X10
Oil on Board
In Progress

I am fighting off some back issues again, so this is as far as I got today. A lot of berries to go yet and more. I think I am going to have to ask Santa for some really huge art sales so I can hire some household help to save my back. Are you listening, Santa????

Daily Painting, "Berry Happy Bird" In Progress

"Berry Happy Bird" 7X10
Oil on Board
In Progress

The past week here has been the epitome of fall. Gorgeous trees, mild temperatures, cool nights....sort of an Indian Summer and that always makes me swoon with how beautiful fall can be. Still, we are in this horrible drought and are needing rain desperately.

The other day I went to one of the best places our area has to offer; Stowe Botanical Gardens. As I was walking, a bird swooped past me and landed just off the walkway in a bush loaded with berries. He didn't seem to mind my being there at all. He hopped around a bit while I took some pictures...and then he seemed to just pose for me as you can see in this picture. I zoomed in and snapped this one as fast as I could. And I was really pleased when I got home to find it was in focus and not a blur. (I'm not the world's greatest photog, you see. I usually get too excited to have the moment in front of me and forget to be still, therefore my photos often come out as indistinguishable blurs.)

So...this is the beginning of a "Berry Happy Bird." I have looked through all of my bird books and can't figure out what he is. I thought he might be a White Breasted Nuthatch, a Gray Jay, or a Vireo of sorts. But couldn't find one just like him. So he remains just the "Berry Happy Bird" you see here. If you happen to know what he is, I'd love to hear from you. My intention is to put more red in the berries than in the photo for pop and contrast.
Stay tuned! :-)

Commissioned Home Portrait, "Pearson's Beach House"

"Pearson's Beach House"
16X20
Acrylic on Board
Commissioned by the Owner

Click the picture to enlarge it.

Some members of the Painted Plums missed seeing this one from last year, so I am sending it along once more to up-date everyone on another category of painting that I do occasionally, i.e. home portraits. I had the pleasure of visiting this painting in the home where it is beautifully framed on the wall above a desk. It's funny how, when a painting leaves my studio, I wonder how it is viewed in someone's home.... hoping it finds its way to a good location where it will be enjoyed. In this case, I can now say it is very much in the right place!

FEEDBACK WANTED....http://www.fineartstudioonline.com/cherylpass
Meanwhile, I have set up a trial website page at FineArtStudioOnline, where you can view a few of my recent works, some for sale, some not. This trial stage will be until January ( with only 10 paintings for the moment) and I am really wanting some feedback to see if you find this to be a good way to view and keep up with my paintings. At the end of the trial stage I will be able to put as many as 100 paintings up in a searchable form by category, which I hope will make it easy for you to access my work. Please let me know if you like this site and if it works better for you.

Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait, "Noah"

"Noah" 14X14
Oil on Canvas
Commissioned by the Owner

Click on picture to enlarge it

Ta Da! Here is Noah. The owner is checking this out for the final critique. I think this is it....He is quite the guy, in my opinion. Now the search is on for the right frame. (and the next subject for painting.) :-)





Detail from
"Noah"
Click on picture to enlarge it.

Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait, "Noah" In Progress

"Noah" 14X14
In Progress

Our Halloween trick for today? Calling the furnace serviceman to come and fix our freezing house! Sure enough, first cold snap we get and our furnace decided to dress up for Halloween, pretending to be "Fritz" ..... as in "on the Fritz!" Well, "Fritz" is only 12 years old, so we didn't expect him to start giving us fits. They don't make 'em like they used to....the old one lasted nearly 30 years. Thank you EPA regulators for dumbing down the furnace industry... and thank you, also, to all of the manufacturers who left the country and now make cheap junk for us to use. Anyway, a big fat grand later, our house is once again toasty warm. We have been forewarned that "Fritz" may last us another two or three years and then... and then... and then....it'll be "Freddie on Elm Street" for Halloween. Oh, boy. I can't wait for that one!

This being the story of the day, painting more of Noah did not happen til late this evening, by which time I was good and tired from trying to stay warm all day. Here's the progress today. Better "spirits" tomorrow now that All Hallows Eve is over. :-)