Practice really does make perfect. I like reminding myself that art is a practice, artists practice art, in a continuum, one idea leads to the next. You question, seek answers and ask what if and why not. It doesn't just come to you, you have to ask it to come. I haven't begun to paint the Evening Grosbeak because I am unsure how to go about it. realistic, quilterly, playful, painterly?

I am unsure how to paint the bird, so I practice. I do not like my samples yet. I like the top most bird better than the bottom because the eye is not so round. Birds eyes are fairly round, but are affected by eyelids just like us. Their eyelids create a slight bit of squared off shape. The first trial painting captured this best (not sure the photo really captures this). It is these fine details that really affect the outcome of a piece.

I like the big photos I am able to use with this new blogging software. I wish I could get the Assets to work though. Oh well. Please excuse me while I spiff things up around here.