I'm Nesting

Did you ever watch a nest being built? 

I have.

In June 2009, I watched a red bird, another name for a Northern Cardinal, build a nest at my back door.

I documented it here on my blog as it was in progress in several post. 

That is why I'm positive these two nest were built by red birds. 

I just discovered these nest recently near the Garden Palace in side by side Oleanders. 

Made me wonder if they were setting there eggs at the same time. 

It must get pretty lonely on the nest. 

So, I chose to think they planned this. 

The interesting thing is they build in layers.

The first layer is large coarse material which shows nicely in the first picture. 

I recognize this as dead branches of a vine which is hanging in a nearby cedar tree. 

That big green leaf in the forefront is of the same kind of vine. 

Then, as each layer is added, the material gets smaller and smaller. 

A layer of dead leaves is added before the final very fine material is added and smoothed into a perfect cup like home for nesting.

Just thought you'd like to know.

♥

PS:    I don't know if redbirds clean up and refurbish to reuse a nest but I'm leaving these in place and will be watching....come spring. 

Listen

Listen to your whisper......

There was something I wanted to tell you about

painting hair and bird watching.

Have you heard the expression,

"her hair looks like a bird's nest?"

The other day as I was watching Lady Cardinal's

magnificent nest building progress,

that expression came to mind.

It was during the painting of the first of this series

of Castle Towers.

And I was painting hair.

I thought about how Lady Cardinal first laid down a blanket of dried leaves. And how I had laid down a solid blanket of color as the first step. And then she added a layer of dried course plant stems of various varieties. I laid down some course strokes of other colors in the highlight area of her hair.

The next time I visited the nest, just before the first egg, and when the nest building was finished, there was a layer of very fine dried material. I was amazed to discover there is some blueprint somewhere that she was following. The layers were deliberate.

Then I added very fine strokes of the lightest and darkest colors where the hair was closest to me. (not all over) Then I knew I was finished.

And that is how I paint hair.

Like a bird's nest.

******

Listen to your whisper is another 8 x 10 on canvas board and I will be listing it soon as I can. Now, I have work to do.

Expect,

Sharon

ps...I think if you click on the picture you can better see the hair painting.

Mail Castles

I sent these castles in the mail last week. I tell you they are so fun to build. I used black gesso on the envelope first and then took the collage papers, scissors and pens to the couch. Yep, art-on-the-couch.

I managed to list my latest originals on etsy just now. Check it out and help your self. Thanks.

Lady Cardinal is definitely now setting the eggs. Today is day 2 and she only laid 3 eggs. Had to get this shot before leaving this morning because the flower was blooming. She is watching me. OK, no more bird pictures until the hatch. Promise.

Expect a great week,

Sharon

Castles

"I am Queen of my Castle"
"dare to be a princess"

I must tell you that I have been a "stretched canvas snob". By that I mean I would never think of painting any serious work of ART on a canvas board. No not me. I guess it goes back to my oil painting days when the bounce in the canvas felt so right with the brush and oil paint. And canvas boards were just too too ......cheap...and didn't bounce.

I may be a convert to canvas boards and I guess the first thing to admit would be to question whether or not these new little paintings are "serious works of ART".

They are on 8 x 10 cheap canvas boards.
I have discovered for acrylic, mixed media, multi layer collage, and stamping, they are perfect.
Because they don't bounce.

Besides that, this size fits in my scanner so nicely.

I will be adding these originals to my etsy and hopefully before the day is over.
I have already made prints and they are beautiful too.


Lady Cardinal update: This morning I kept checking to see if she was on the nest or if I had missed her. At 7am, I ran to check again and just as I approached the window, she flew in an landed on a little branch. She peered in as though counting her eggs. I was sure she saw me because she flew to a nearby branch. I slithered into the corner out of her sight and waited. Sure enough, she returned. I stood in hiding and watched for 25 minutes. A couple of times I was sure she had laid number three but she didn't leave. Finally, I left for my camera and when I returned, she saw me and flew.
I have just checked and she is back on the nest............
Expect,
Sharon

Glorious Saturday

As I often do on weekends,

I jumped out of bed just after five O this morning.

I had wiggled my allotted time and had to jump.

I wasn't up too long and found myself cutting these fun little stamps.

I'll be using them today, I'm sure.

When I noticed the time, I ran to the back door window.

Yes, there she was on the nest. It was 6:25.

Again, we quietly watched each other.

Then, at 6:35 she flew.

Glorious!

Here is the journal page I told you about starting in this post. As you can see, I broke up the symmetry well enough. I wanted to show since I was "just telling" the other day.

Isn't it the craziest thing, I have so much to blog about and am energized to do it. I'll be back because I'm just dying to show you the painting I finished. You're gonna love it.

Expect a glorious weekend,

Sharon

Eggs

My morning house chore today was to wash eggs and turn on the dishwasher.
I don't know why, I thought you needed to see the eggs. Aren't they are grand!Yesterday when I got home I ran to the nest to see what progress had been made. I saw thin, fine nesting material had been added and thought to myself, "it must be the finishing touches". I had noticed the evening before she had added a coarse material over the leaves that lined the bottom.

This morning before starting my chores, I looked but did not see her at the nest. Then while standing at the sink washing eggs, I saw her dart around the corner. I ran to watch out my window being very still and just watching as she did a sort of slow dance. She slowly squatted into the nest cup and then stood and turned a little bit. Then, she squatted and stood and turned and squatted and stood and turned and squatted and stood and turned. I watched her slow dance in wonder. This must be how they make the nest cup so perfectly rounded, I thought. I left her dancing but did see her fly past my window again.

I reported her slow dance to dear husband and then went back to see if she was back. I'm a stalker. She was there sitting quietly in her nest cup. The dance was over. I watched. We were both still and silent. She saw me but turned away. She opened her beak a couple of time which was curious and then she hopped out and flew.

I thought to myself, "could she have possibly just laid her first egg?" and "could I have possibly just witnessed it?" I quickly opened the door, taking the five steps in two leaps and there it was at 6:48 am, the first pale blue speckled beautiful gift.

I left knowing she was finished for today. I did have time for morning art and will share that later.

Expect more eggs,

Sharon

Surprise

Imagine my surprise this morning when I stepped out my back door during my extra hour of the day and frightened a Mama red bird. She has just started this nest which is eye level and five feet from my back door. She chose a Rose of Sharon that volunteered in this wrong place. For three years now I have needed to move it. For three years now I have been doing ART instead.

Below is a side view of the nest and I hope you can see the stalk of dead flowers that hang down at the bottom. And can you see the little swirl of twisted vine right there above the leaf that I have documented on? This is ART.

Minutes later while at the kitchen window, I saw her dart around the corner. Oh gracious! My heart leaped knowing I was going to get to witness this house building. And oh gracious, could I possibly get a photo of her! First I had to run get the Windex and clean the windows. There are two. One in the door and one in the storm door. Mind you I didn't clean the whole window, just the little area my camera would look through.

Just after I was all focused and waiting, she came back with more house building supplies. I think she sees me. Oh how I wish I could stay and watch the whole event. I'm sure she will be finished today as fast as she is progressing. This is so exciting.

I Hope you have a surprise today.

Sharon