This is a miniature of one of the waterfalls in Starved Rock State Park, Il, (one of my favorite places!). I could just sit at this place for hours and hours...just soaking it in! This watercolor is about 2" x 4".

I guess I can't get enough of peonies. I'll be doing some more renditions of this beauty but in watercolor next. These flowers remind me of ballerinas. They gloriously leap up in their bright tutus and then gracefully touch ground again in the slightest rain storm. Wish mine would bloom...I had to tresspass into our neighbor's yard with my camera to grab some photo references...An artist has to do what an artist has to do...

And yet...another thrush! What is it about these birds that I find so intriguing? Robins don't have as pretty a song as their counterparts but still, they sure have pluck! The Bleeding Hearts are from my garden. They truly bloomed their hearts out this spring! This is a miniature watercolor, 2 x 3 1/4".

As promised, here is the combined thrush painting with my card graphics. This is a marriage of watercolors, pen and ink and Photoshop tools. It is so exhilerating to mesh so many techniques together to produce a piece!

This is the next in the backyard bird card series. I was so looking forward to creating the Blue Jays as they are one of my favorite birds. I don't know why but I feel a certain kinship with the more racous birds. Jays are birds with attitude and I love all varieties, (may have to do the stellars too for they are simply gorgeous!). I have included my messy sketch to give you an idea of how I go about arranging the composition. The beauty of a computer program such as Illustrator or Photoshop is that you can take different scanned elements of a work in progress and easily slide them around in a format to quickly view the best composition. I prefer to do this on screen rather than on paper...saves erasers! But, as you can see...it ALL begins with pencil and paper...and an honest love of birds!

All the thrushes are among my favorite birds, (well...not too fond of the robin but love all the rest!)This little guy, (2.75 x 2.75) is not miniature quality but he will do nicely for a birthday card I am presently designing. I'll upload the entire design when I'm finished.

I meant to get this done before Easter...oh well. Happy belated Easter everyone! May spring warm your hearts and souls!