Drawing and painting hummingbirds...while they are still here!

...the female and juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are going crazy at our house zooming here and there and fighting at the feeders. The males have already left, getting a jump on their big journey south and leaving lots of nectar behind for the females and juveniles. Last week we had several new birds at the feeders, no doubt stopping off to refuel as they migrate south...

Paintings 69-71 were fun little sketches. I drew them quickly with a pencil on watercolor paper while sitting in the car waiting for Matty. If you recognize the poses, it's because I used reference photos from a series I photographed back in 2009. It was fun drawing these birds because I wasn't worried about stray lines or erase marks, detail, or accuracy...just creating quick little impressions to get things started. When I got home, I went outside and painted over the top of the sketches with watercolor. The hummers were really active that day, and I enjoyed seeing them and listening to their fighting while I laid in the color...

Painting 71. Hummingbird Sipping Lucifer Crocosmia Nectar

Watercolor and graphite

...the pencil sketch for painting 71.

Painting 70. Hummingbird Resting Beside Lucifer Crocosmia Blossoms

Watercolor and graphite

...pencil sketch for painting 70.

Painting 69. Hummingbird Resting on Lucifer Crocosmia Stalk

Watercolor and graphite

...pencil sketch for painting 69.

Painting 68 was even more basic. Scratched out with a charcoal pencil, I then went in with plain water in a waterbrush to soften and add shading. After that, a few strokes of watercolor to define and anchor. I did this in the car, and it only took a minute or two. It was meant to be a study, to help me figure out how I was going to paint the pencil sketches. It's the first time I've used charcoal in over 30 years. I loved it and will be using it a lot more...

Painting 68. Hummingbird in Charcoal

I splashed out painting 67, the first painting in the series, with one color in just under one minute. Meant to be a study to give me a feel for the hummingbirds, I was outside by the feeders while the hummingbirds were buzzing around when I painted it. It's fun to throw caution to the wind with these quick studies...

Painting 67. Hummingbird in Blue

...these paintings are all part of the 100 Paintings Challenge.