tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59636351354143044542024-03-18T21:25:30.166-07:00The Naturalist's ArtJayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-85857781042215287602013-11-17T18:04:00.000-08:002013-11-17T18:28:58.291-08:00Bird #8 Sharp-shinned Hawk or "Sharpie"Sharp-shinned Hawk (<i>Accipiter striatus</i>) or "Sharpie"<br />
17 November 2013, Permanent marker, 11" x 14"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAENNswGE_WaFKi4IHHoUJdnOIGjgqQur0YK1Tlvzz_jmdiaWHp9rolAuT265qIYDsBmeol0GSU-o_57TmcogloIJpotc3sCwzUfRnSEPRYczbCaXN7Ud_gAqGWeWMGCsrjRRc1tdA_Lk/s1600/P1070598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAENNswGE_WaFKi4IHHoUJdnOIGjgqQur0YK1Tlvzz_jmdiaWHp9rolAuT265qIYDsBmeol0GSU-o_57TmcogloIJpotc3sCwzUfRnSEPRYczbCaXN7Ud_gAqGWeWMGCsrjRRc1tdA_Lk/s320/P1070598.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I started sketching this piece shortly after I finished the last piece that was posted on this blog. It's been a long time coming... but that's one of the great things about creating art... you can always pick right back up wherever you left off.<br />
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I decided to make birds a focus area for my art when I rekindled my creative fire almost a year ago, and I really enjoy working with permanent marker. It didn't go unnoticed that the brand name for the world's most popular permanent markers and the nickname for one of North America's smallest raptors are one in the same. Let's just say... I couldn't help myself. Both the hawk and the marker are drawn life-sized.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-84601032411507004072013-02-11T08:40:00.001-08:002013-02-11T09:09:48.523-08:00Cornell Lab's new Birds of Paradise ProjectThe Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a new <a href="http://www.birdsofparadiseproject.org/">Birds of Paradise website</a>.<br />
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It is very cool... eye candy for the artist/naturalist.<br />
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The "Birds-of-Paradise Project" is the first to assemble still photographs and videos of all 39 species on one website. Tim Laman (the wildlife photographer I mentioned in one of my previous posts) is one of the major contributors of content. In addition to all of the great images, there is some very interesting information on the biology and behavior of the BOPs.<br />
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Since I've already finished pieces of the <a href="http://naturalistsart.blogspot.com/2012/12/bird-3-king-bird-of-paradise.html">King BOP</a> and the <a href="http://naturalistsart.blogspot.com/2013/01/bird-6-twelve-wired-bird-of-paradise.html">Twelve-wired BOP</a>, I've only got 37 more to go!<br />
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I better get to work.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-65674891090294091742013-01-19T17:46:00.002-08:002013-01-23T10:24:56.108-08:00Bird #7 Black-necked Stilt<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Black-necked Stilt (<i>Himantopus mexicanus</i>)<br /> 19 January 2013, Acrylic on cardboard, 11" x 14"</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBp3rnToPUTl2Zwe9zn5pvcJf-Nc8FsThRWZFI9AzuOOPVAT0CmWuRHUOZzZme0l5dY0ljhzGd9XGlNzqmOaNo68R6pvd0_4TNw-Aco6qibcYCvQ0lw3CbpcF_5pVO1zXfpClIqgnJpc/s1600/P1060333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBp3rnToPUTl2Zwe9zn5pvcJf-Nc8FsThRWZFI9AzuOOPVAT0CmWuRHUOZzZme0l5dY0ljhzGd9XGlNzqmOaNo68R6pvd0_4TNw-Aco6qibcYCvQ0lw3CbpcF_5pVO1zXfpClIqgnJpc/s320/P1060333.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">This one doesn't require much explanation. I borrowed a few techniques from watercolor to create the background, but the bird is pretty standard acrylic paintbrush application.</span></span><br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">It took quite a while to arrive at the look I was going for with the background. After trying a bunch of different stuff that didn't really work out... and struggling to get it right... I finally resorted to watercolor tactics.</span></span><br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Here are a few photos of the work in progress. It's quite an evolution.</span></span><br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Thanks for stopping by.</span></span>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-50180899759222245612013-01-17T17:13:00.002-08:002013-01-18T07:52:27.290-08:00Amphibian #1 American ToadAmerican Toad (<i>Anaxyrus americanus</i>) calling male<br />
15 January 2013, Permanent marker, 11" x 13.75"<br />
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This is another piece based on a <a href="http://naturalistsangle.blogspot.com/2011/03/outfished-by-girl-again-318-bass-slam.html">photograph previously posted on <i>The Naturalist's Angle</i></a>. It's one of my favorite frog calling photos that I've ever captured. I think the most interesting details of the photo are the ripples in the water generated by the vibration of the toad's body as he squeezed out his anuran serenade. I tried my best to accentuate the rippling water in my drawing and ended up creating a very stylized interpretation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYC38degGiywsC0ThTi7YwQkHRnnHx5AYrGNm_R3tsQjH2YkaMe9KhImldK0otR5SvxEmzY89fiLXIEcIKUBurqG4tOGUqK1uIcc4Y9Lbalmw4MI-a3selMglZHHkbm2y4exj7387Ef4/s1600/Toad+Desoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYC38degGiywsC0ThTi7YwQkHRnnHx5AYrGNm_R3tsQjH2YkaMe9KhImldK0otR5SvxEmzY89fiLXIEcIKUBurqG4tOGUqK1uIcc4Y9Lbalmw4MI-a3selMglZHHkbm2y4exj7387Ef4/s320/Toad+Desoto.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hey ladies, I've got the perfect puddle, lay your eggs here." </td></tr>
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Here are a few photos of the work in progress.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basic pencil sketch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outlined in ink, pencil erased, GO TIGERS!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcX5w5zZtS0SEHdBI1-CE8lorHcFtnvb-niAUhjSSCpMtiHs2XalP5oy7Wm25YHHCe2pk9NA7Oy0XAwRDQjGwZsnYuujEVTMoVahE3ztALt03A9OdPTPj71pczXPqDSgq_D6opqp5Zfs/s1600/103_6772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcX5w5zZtS0SEHdBI1-CE8lorHcFtnvb-niAUhjSSCpMtiHs2XalP5oy7Wm25YHHCe2pk9NA7Oy0XAwRDQjGwZsnYuujEVTMoVahE3ztALt03A9OdPTPj71pczXPqDSgq_D6opqp5Zfs/s320/103_6772.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on the details</td></tr>
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As much as I love it, I think it's about time to put down the permanent marker and try a different medium for my next piece.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-24434632425583259452013-01-11T22:39:00.001-08:002013-01-17T12:23:52.881-08:00Fish #3 Green SunfishGreen Sunfish (<i>Lepomis cyanellus</i>)<br />
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11 January 2013, Permanent marker, 11" x 13.75"</div>
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This was probably the most colorful Green Sunfish I had ever caught. They're typically pretty colorful fish, but I had never seen one with such intense red-orange fin margins. I suspect this was a male displaying breeding coloration. The fins were also proportionally larger than those of any other Green Sunfish I can recall. The fins in the drawing aren't quite as big proportionally as they were on the actual fish... I guess I subconsciously shrunk them down a bit when I sketched it out. I chose to illustrate this one in a style similar to the <a href="http://naturalistsart.blogspot.com/2012/12/fish-1-longear-sunfish.html">Longear Sunfish posted previously</a>. The fish stands alone pretty well, so I decided it didn't need any sort of background. Here's my photograph of the fish <a href="http://naturalistsangle.blogspot.com/2012/04/from-home-of-blues-to-magic-city.html">originally posted on <i>The Naturalist's Angle</i></a>:</div>
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I decided to take a couple of photos of the process this time... since that seems to be something that art bloggers do. I'm still fairly new to being an art blogger, so you'll have to forgive me for not posting any photos of works in progress previously.<br />
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This is where I sat down to work on the drawing during my lunch break. It's nice to be able to work on art in the rain under a pavilion overlooking the lake at Oak Mountain State Park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrj1xy0_K_sQKp9J0AAYSOtEADR8mxa6AVj1pwQq1OPuDENbAX5jV8ZGrlIDltvA7RmW3hOvkV-1Y_BrXHkeNGIxkfcNetpEaInksR9d4k0TBMVUUivR9uhJD1X2-oth6CuR1DcFUOKg/s1600/P1060297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrj1xy0_K_sQKp9J0AAYSOtEADR8mxa6AVj1pwQq1OPuDENbAX5jV8ZGrlIDltvA7RmW3hOvkV-1Y_BrXHkeNGIxkfcNetpEaInksR9d4k0TBMVUUivR9uhJD1X2-oth6CuR1DcFUOKg/s320/P1060297.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An ideal environment to work on nature inspired art</td></tr>
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I had sketched in pencil at home the night before, so my goal for lunch was to define the outline with ink.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsru7884e1rz96vV2dTJNdqXJnXH0Q3BhV3duG-tZ9Fq87AREsF-lEf1NHYF9jnv3d31esC8zJbOdenubsCuLSqikZVIwVG3_xDuZZUQp4SBrDtesohuW0NwJ2sB4EM5KVtYTAe7UQII/s1600/103_6753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsru7884e1rz96vV2dTJNdqXJnXH0Q3BhV3duG-tZ9Fq87AREsF-lEf1NHYF9jnv3d31esC8zJbOdenubsCuLSqikZVIwVG3_xDuZZUQp4SBrDtesohuW0NwJ2sB4EM5KVtYTAe7UQII/s320/103_6753.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basic sketch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outlined in ink, pencil erased, Go Grizzlies!</td></tr>
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It's a pretty big leap from that basic outline to the finished product, but I got so carried away with stippling that I forgot to take any more photos along the way. Maybe next time.</div>
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Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-90739425897669525482013-01-09T17:19:00.000-08:002013-01-10T06:09:38.090-08:00Bird #6 Twelve-wired Bird of ParadiseTwelve-wired Bird of Paradise (<i><span class="st">Seleucidis melanoleucus</span></i>)<br />
Mixed media (colored paper cutout & permanent marker), 06 January 2013, 11" x 13.75"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOmlRCgcDVDJ521x7kysY_xBDZWJie3igKkxI1onP1FwPEfai5vr4d01mpxaTH2sMc719N6R0XpLphFOOeEIUxaACj3WQdLck1sq99aYO3pxNdl-jPhbao8LMnTrA9PduFU_zwXJYKu8/s1600/103_6737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOmlRCgcDVDJ521x7kysY_xBDZWJie3igKkxI1onP1FwPEfai5vr4d01mpxaTH2sMc719N6R0XpLphFOOeEIUxaACj3WQdLck1sq99aYO3pxNdl-jPhbao8LMnTrA9PduFU_zwXJYKu8/s320/103_6737.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
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For an explanation of my choice of media and my perspective on Birds of Paradise, check out the <a href="http://naturalistsart.blogspot.com/2012/12/bird-3-king-bird-of-paradise.html">previous post of my King Bird of Paradise executed in the same style</a>... or you can squint to read the print in the screen capture below. This piece was created as a complementary companion to the King B.O.P. piece.<br />
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The fraternal twins side by side:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W_xMj04Cn21vG2BJRNCwsIzQeYSTnpFk93kBlscV9jMwWZl0gnVDEeiSCxcjXFtLs1Ifd0_3SywPByMa-xQlrBcLGkyGSoi-_Lr1mlkY8VzzAkZ15t1OA9t45u61kFgoiBK0PC88hyphenhyphenA/s1600/103_6747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W_xMj04Cn21vG2BJRNCwsIzQeYSTnpFk93kBlscV9jMwWZl0gnVDEeiSCxcjXFtLs1Ifd0_3SywPByMa-xQlrBcLGkyGSoi-_Lr1mlkY8VzzAkZ15t1OA9t45u61kFgoiBK0PC88hyphenhyphenA/s320/103_6747.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Twelve-wired (33-35 cm) is about twice the size of the King (16-19
cm) in life- so I ended up illustrating them a bit larger, but the two species are
still not depicted to scale.<br />
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Here my artwork is pictured with the Autumn 2012 issue of <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1201"><i>Living Bird</i></a> magazine. The cover photo by <a href="http://timlaman.com/">Tim Laman</a> served as a reference material for this piece. There are many more amazing photographs of the Birds of Paradise in the magazine and on Tim Laman's website.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJK-9T8KNXvzGiaz0CyZsssFwNOAoHZr2sXVwdjTnoMSO9Gz8CgQo74KQmGR27i6CPZLSZJh3X7fCIJOjOb1cT8JlJ42Ir9WfqXYAPn3il46DoRJvnMAi-8b6zXGO85EOy4eqH_5o5RY/s1600/103_6736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJK-9T8KNXvzGiaz0CyZsssFwNOAoHZr2sXVwdjTnoMSO9Gz8CgQo74KQmGR27i6CPZLSZJh3X7fCIJOjOb1cT8JlJ42Ir9WfqXYAPn3il46DoRJvnMAi-8b6zXGO85EOy4eqH_5o5RY/s320/103_6736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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No one had anything to say when I originally posted the King B.O.P. here on the blog. A few friends on Facebook made comments when I posted it there, but I guess you could call them art hippies.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JVZt26dc5Reb-4Rw7G5IEwzOakfWD0S0O98NY0dC_JJug5xNnbspkdfYTDunWnr8fZnIbEBvJssfXaw86G5WhRulJM5stzc4maun2TvoyjMBnXb45LLakatkZklUCtMst37AYOu28iA/s1600/King+BOP+No+comments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JVZt26dc5Reb-4Rw7G5IEwzOakfWD0S0O98NY0dC_JJug5xNnbspkdfYTDunWnr8fZnIbEBvJssfXaw86G5WhRulJM5stzc4maun2TvoyjMBnXb45LLakatkZklUCtMst37AYOu28iA/s320/King+BOP+No+comments.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too weird for commentary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Perhaps it was just a little too unusual for anyone to comment, but hopefully a brave soul will share their thoughts about this style now.<br />
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Please don't be afraid... any and all comments welcome.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-91620677737591277732013-01-05T21:28:00.001-08:002013-01-07T00:05:31.769-08:00Bird #5 Great Blue HeronGreat Blue Heron (<i>Ardea herodias</i>)<br />
Permanent marker, 05 January 2013, 11" x 14"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1SkwWYEGUkCePvCzHtBeR5lbmUsotIjby-hm6oDTVvlWza-zdM6lturcb2CGbTjJw0gB2B4M-MDUKf0FcsALg9FMvWWBAfefYdHgRKrtlnZTBk32r9GcMrDPcdHcS-IOdvUDUyZLLzY/s1600/103_6731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1SkwWYEGUkCePvCzHtBeR5lbmUsotIjby-hm6oDTVvlWza-zdM6lturcb2CGbTjJw0gB2B4M-MDUKf0FcsALg9FMvWWBAfefYdHgRKrtlnZTBk32r9GcMrDPcdHcS-IOdvUDUyZLLzY/s320/103_6731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Great Blue Herons are regular company at the places where we fly fish throughout North America, so I imagine my fly fisher friends can appreciate this one.<br />
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The colors are a bit surreal... but it's Sharpie markers. What do you expect?<br />
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I think that's why I'm drawn to permanent markers as a medium- they force you to be creative with a limited color palette. Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-65564500057233153312012-12-30T22:17:00.001-08:002013-01-17T12:24:30.344-08:00Fish #2 Largemouth BassLargemouth Bass (<i>Micropterus salmoides</i>) with fly rod<br />
Mixed media (pen & ink, permanent marker, and colored pencil) on paper, 30 December 2012, 11" x 13.5"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKIPwS_KC1voFMFixKCHwRMsLj5dvrZgP7cJXBPIaSdF_g2oVgSA-jRZ51UKwZm1qOMc5YVzZNmPRK_QVXUlbQZMY4B3fvWfuS8lJYVzfdEEx5EZkAa1GcXFzAOfRAY8DivpUq-P5p0Q/s1600/103_6727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKIPwS_KC1voFMFixKCHwRMsLj5dvrZgP7cJXBPIaSdF_g2oVgSA-jRZ51UKwZm1qOMc5YVzZNmPRK_QVXUlbQZMY4B3fvWfuS8lJYVzfdEEx5EZkAa1GcXFzAOfRAY8DivpUq-P5p0Q/s320/103_6727.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This piece is a little darker in real life and the accents of color don't show up very well here. It's mostly just black & white, but there are some green accents and the background is brown colored pencil. I really need a scanner to capture these art pieces better. Photos just don't serve them very well.<br />
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Here's my original photograph that served as the basis for this piece. As usual, I've changed a few details.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLB9XVKJ1GQR3Hto-enHn_9gl6XxkDgk5HXjWSQJ2bMvkMnpw3i9w3fSgpSzxzmzGPXhyvor1iCpukPHH6k_JYHFpVCUXS9eL4U351e4w0i6XY3km7JXdByKEdGWGb3mVcOgv4FZJ8uo/s1600/Nonconnah+Creek+Largemouth2+23+June+2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLB9XVKJ1GQR3Hto-enHn_9gl6XxkDgk5HXjWSQJ2bMvkMnpw3i9w3fSgpSzxzmzGPXhyvor1iCpukPHH6k_JYHFpVCUXS9eL4U351e4w0i6XY3km7JXdByKEdGWGb3mVcOgv4FZJ8uo/s320/Nonconnah+Creek+Largemouth2+23+June+2007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This fish was caught on 23 June 2007, just as a rain began at Nonconnah Creek- a notoriously funky ditch in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person to ever disgrace a fly rod by taking one down into Nonconnah, but as you can see there are fish to be caught. The fish above was the second of two similar sized Largemouths I caught that day- both on the surface, both as the rain was beginning to come down. This was the first of the pair...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyrMrL7IZesREZM2qLFRBRu01G1Todhrd1wadcTeZoF0WwzU43ayR3GS8gvqUleYyHmUkLsXNuO2NClePGqhWnYzICiygtCTiVZ5mM1vfXazMXKQQU1DmVDus-EttXYFJkeVzwF75sSI/s1600/Nonconnah+Creek+Largemouth+23+June+2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyrMrL7IZesREZM2qLFRBRu01G1Todhrd1wadcTeZoF0WwzU43ayR3GS8gvqUleYyHmUkLsXNuO2NClePGqhWnYzICiygtCTiVZ5mM1vfXazMXKQQU1DmVDus-EttXYFJkeVzwF75sSI/s320/Nonconnah+Creek+Largemouth+23+June+2007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Maybe I'll eventually draw it too. Stay tuned.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-44622216528531237472012-12-29T13:05:00.001-08:002012-12-29T13:10:03.836-08:00Bird #4 Northern Cardinal<span style="font-family: inherit;">Northern Cardinal (<span style="line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><i>Cardinalis cardinalis</i></span>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Acrylic on cardboard, 29 December 2012, 11" x 13.5"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt10qmxLjcBaqljC8SOOtepDInj_3MD4H_QA7pIgloPjYbL0SvtyVpmDDPJfemC_0z6dVLIcDoJOai6oqzv3NgL0jaHpudpWgCCeu-aS2uU7Q7w1JZDMViglHh5cLu7hhBrGkrZ-qIhg/s1600/P1060270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt10qmxLjcBaqljC8SOOtepDInj_3MD4H_QA7pIgloPjYbL0SvtyVpmDDPJfemC_0z6dVLIcDoJOai6oqzv3NgL0jaHpudpWgCCeu-aS2uU7Q7w1JZDMViglHh5cLu7hhBrGkrZ-qIhg/s320/P1060270.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn't quite finish it in time for Christmas, but 'tis the season. I hope you like it, Bill. It's a bit of a different perspective for a Cardinal. I kinda thought it looked like a rock star with a mohawk from a head on view, so I went with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of the acrylic paints I used were enamels, so it</span> was very difficult to photograph without a terrible glare. I had to take it out into natural light on the front porch for a photo... which makes it look a bit lighter than it appears in real life. I desperately need a large digital flatbed scanner for this stuff.</span>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-1236767783379726832012-12-21T21:02:00.002-08:002013-01-17T12:24:10.155-08:00Fish #1 Longear SunfishLongear Sunfish (<i>Lepomis megalotis</i>)<br />
Mixed media (permanent marker & colored pencil), 21 December 2012, 11" x 13.5"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8GDQENvwmCt85BXgnlLLBn7RTF3D_h_TECLqm__Sz_Mc4sJr0WPrLZ-upXkYR74cZYvN9fNNdocNQQ7-MZS7zvsAiSPsYoQC-1RXHothikdZc4avg7waOpeRXILoOvndUEYzMg1k5Z0/s1600/P1060245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8GDQENvwmCt85BXgnlLLBn7RTF3D_h_TECLqm__Sz_Mc4sJr0WPrLZ-upXkYR74cZYvN9fNNdocNQQ7-MZS7zvsAiSPsYoQC-1RXHothikdZc4avg7waOpeRXILoOvndUEYzMg1k5Z0/s320/P1060245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is my artistic interpretation of the Longear photo that has graced the header of my blog, <a href="http://naturalistsangle.blogspot.com/"><i>The Naturalist's Angle</i></a>, for well over a year now. I've liked it so much that I haven't really gotten the urge to change it... like so many of my fellow fly fisher bloggers do with their headers. This fish was caught in July of 2007 on the South Fork of the Spring River in Arkansas. I used my artistic license to alter a few things from the original image, but I'll leave it to the viewer to figure out those details.<br />
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I have wanted to draw a Longear for a long time, and I think it turned out pretty much like I had envisioned. I believe Longear Sunfish are one of the most beautiful fish that swim in freshwater, and I imagine this won't be the last one I illustrate.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-4015960304370191972012-12-18T21:50:00.000-08:002012-12-19T15:39:17.086-08:00Bird #3 King Bird of ParadiseKing Bird of Paradise (<i><span class="st">Cicinnurus regius</span></i>)- male & female<br />
Mixed media (colored paper cutout & permanent marker), 18 December 2012, 11" x 13.5"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c6pPP2UbL-kn5xBZO02v4oWTcOubBEmFn_2z_7wf7iX9Y8FTIMp0eLUMwEQSH8w2dH-8veSFfiQdAbB9wdjJhmKdr2dpDxj6V-ynIr08oZPYwZdkxrCV_BoENGkHb8R0FUSCgiYl3IA/s1600/P1060228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c6pPP2UbL-kn5xBZO02v4oWTcOubBEmFn_2z_7wf7iX9Y8FTIMp0eLUMwEQSH8w2dH-8veSFfiQdAbB9wdjJhmKdr2dpDxj6V-ynIr08oZPYwZdkxrCV_BoENGkHb8R0FUSCgiYl3IA/s320/P1060228.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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This one is a bit different. The paper cutouts are a tribute to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Matisse">Henri Matisse</a>. My reason for taking this approach reflects some of my perspective on the biological concept of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_selection">sexual selection</a>. In many cases where sexually selected traits influence mate choice, the females are choosing males that have the ability to survive while maintaining brilliant coloration and adornments that most certainly oppose forces of natural selection. Simply put, being brightly colored with all sorts of decoration does not aid the individual male's basic survival, but if he wants to reproduce (and increase his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_fitness">biological fitness</a>) he has to be "pretty" in her eyes.<br />
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We certainly don't understand all that a female <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_of_paradise">Bird of Paradise</a> takes into consideration when making her mate choice, but I imagine she sees a male as a distinct pattern of colors (hence my choice for paper cutouts)... and if anything is out of place, he will not win her favor. Missing a delicate tail feather? Sorry, Mr. Bird of Paradise, you lose.<br />
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Of course, complex and ritualized mating displays and "dances" are an important part of mate choice for Birds of Paradise as well.<br />
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Poor little guys have a lot to do to impress the ladies... makes me really glad I'm not a Bird of Paradise.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-8904851092812670712012-12-16T21:45:00.002-08:002012-12-17T17:15:46.416-08:00Bird #2 Brown PelicanBrown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>)<br />
Colored pencil on paper, 16 December 2012, 11" x 14"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL29RrKjzkRyCe_9zGzqRDWUIsR6oc6aGe6zSAvKQNfm4N7RPRu2h5F8BLGRq8tzSIKtxejqGXndn_1rUJb87NjYPJPjhinKNrhB70FIQ0d3kvFw3SMzxL5ZeWQA6EBw1unpz2fnyrWlo/s1600/P1060216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL29RrKjzkRyCe_9zGzqRDWUIsR6oc6aGe6zSAvKQNfm4N7RPRu2h5F8BLGRq8tzSIKtxejqGXndn_1rUJb87NjYPJPjhinKNrhB70FIQ0d3kvFw3SMzxL5ZeWQA6EBw1unpz2fnyrWlo/s320/P1060216.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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This one took me a while... not an easy subject. Pelicans have some weird proportions. This piece appears a little darker in real life, flash photo washed it out a bit.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-29679269519315931622012-12-10T21:22:00.001-08:002012-12-17T17:16:12.553-08:00Bird #1 Eastern MeadowlarkEastern Meadowlark (<i>Sturnella magna</i>)<br />
Permanent marker on paper, 04 Decemeber 2012, 11" x 14"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBow8n-4i4kcJJ24M1PLtXaZV8MaG8fjbw-47Kf_nC_N0K78x-7O1uYozoyGnmRhNHUw6Y_lVjvp-BfFM3qeZuEHJrMyydG4bNr2wy98TNh-GUh0Td8zkIN-GngGs8US9EsVLzybbk9Fc/s1600/P1060171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBow8n-4i4kcJJ24M1PLtXaZV8MaG8fjbw-47Kf_nC_N0K78x-7O1uYozoyGnmRhNHUw6Y_lVjvp-BfFM3qeZuEHJrMyydG4bNr2wy98TNh-GUh0Td8zkIN-GngGs8US9EsVLzybbk9Fc/s320/P1060171.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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That's right. Sharpie art.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5963635135414304454.post-27675366059972275182012-12-07T13:57:00.002-08:002012-12-23T10:24:14.840-08:00A new beginningThis blog is the offspring of a parent blog, <a href="http://naturalistsangle.blogspot.com/"><i>The Naturalist's Angle</i></a>, where I post about fly fishing, nature, conservation, and other outdoor adventure.<br />
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After many years of hiatus from purely artistic pursuits, I have finally decided to get back to it.<br />
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Let me give you a brief history.<br />
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I am probably one of the few people my age or younger who can honestly say I had a great public school education experience courtesy of the Memphis City Schools system. This was largely because of the art programs at the junior high and high schools I attended. These two schools were my neighborhood schools, and both are in short walking distance of the house where I spent the formative years of my youth. Even though they were my assigned schools by district, I had to "audition" to be placed into the "optional" art programs. (MCS offers what they call "optional" programs at many of the system's schools ranging from high level college preparatory academics to the arts.) Geography alone was not enough to give me the opportunities I was afforded. You had to prove you belonged.<br />
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When I was still in sixth grade at Willow Oaks Elementary (optional for academics), I went to an "audition" at Colonial Junior High to see if I had the basic skills to be molded into an artist. In addition to taking a portfolio of my naive elementary artwork for review, I was placed in front of a still life arrangement and given an hour to draw it. The "audition" was so called because many of the programs offered by the junior high and high school were performance based arts. These schools proudly wore the label of schools for the "Creative and Performing Arts," and within the halls the programs were simply referred to as "CAPA." It meant a lot<span class="userContent"> to be a CAPA student</span> at Colonial Junior High and Overton High School. You weren't cool if you weren't in a CAPA program... except for the band kids... they were and always will be nerds no matter where you go... only kidding, Kelly. ;)<br />
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A lot of time has passed since high school... over sixteen years to be honest. A lot of art has not been created in that time period. Sure, I've had a few projects here and there- a few murals, some exhibit art for a zoo where I worked, and I've even painted a canvas or two... but it's time for a new beginning.<br />
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One of my friends from high school, who joined the CAPA art program at Colonial Junior High in ninth grade, has found herself with a similar desire to reconnect with art. We're trying to keep each other motivated by picking a subject and simultaneously creating a piece of art. The rules are simple, we take turns picking the specific subject (which at present will be birds- mostly native to the eastern U.S.) and we post our products online at the same time. The are no limits on media, size, style, or anything else that could possibly restrict an artist.<br />
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Let the fun begin.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08288928187563951613noreply@blogger.com0