Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Balancing Act

I saw this gangly juvenile Tricolored Heron last June on (of course) Pinckney Island NWR in Hilton Head, SC. He was moving cautiously down a branch that had fallen in the water, flapping his wings to balance and never once letting his gaze move from the tiny fish swimming below.

Painting 131, Balancing Act - A Juvenile Tricolored Heron Learns to Fish
(Oil Pastel, 12x16 Sennelier Oil Pastel Paper)

I bought Sennelier oil pastels today with birthday money my parents gave me. I'm in love. They are so luscious it's like painting with lipstick...or creamy butter (yum). They glide across the paper leaving pure pigment behind and blend easily with a smudge stick.
at

18 comments:

  1. Nicole MacPMarch 29, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    Very cool!! I like how well you've captured his hesitation, and the contrast with the high energy background!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lois EvensenMarch 29, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    Just wonderful. Did he catch any fish? I love the movement in your paintings.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Laure FerlitaMarch 29, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    Wow, girl, love that saturated color—looks like you (and your subject) are having fun!

    ReplyDelete
  4. TimareeMarch 29, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    Super. I really, really love this!

    ReplyDelete
  5. MargaretMarch 29, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    I will HAVE to try that brand!! I LOVE oil pastels. I will be at Hilton Head in a few weeks ... is this place public and worthy of checking out (not the younger kids, just me and my older daughter?)

    ReplyDelete
  6. KellyMarch 29, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    ...thanks, Nicole. I was trying to catch that hesitation and nervousness! Yeah!!

    Lois...he didn't catch any fish, but he studied them for a long time. He didn't fall. Eventually he went back to his nest tree.

    Laure...I did have fun. I love those oil pastels. So creamy and the pigment is so pure!!

    Timaree...thank you!! :-)

    Margaret...it's public and a free park. You have to go. The rookery is probably just ramping up with the birds selecting and building their nests. I'll be so jealous!!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. grammie gMarch 29, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    Hi Kelly...Striking colors you used..very nice!
    I'm trying to picture a bird of it's size inching it's way down this branch, to funny!!
    Good for you...bought yourself a nice gift! : }

    ReplyDelete
  8. ElaineMarch 29, 2011 at 11:56 PM

    This is so bright and colorful and beautiful!! Painting 31 for this year--you are way ahead of schedule. Last year you struggled, but it seems that this year you are having so much fun that the numbers really don't matter so much.

    ReplyDelete
  9. MontanagirlMarch 29, 2011 at 11:59 PM

    That is so cool! You sure know how to capture the action on canvas!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wanda.....March 30, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    Lovely painting, Kelly. I appreciate how you managed to capture his stance and concentrated downward stare.

    ReplyDelete
  11. ChrisMarch 30, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    Your paintings do not cease to amaze me... Just another of your gorgeous artistic touch! Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Carol MattinglyMarch 30, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Beautiful Kelly! Your new oils sound yummy enough to eat. Enjoy them. Look forward to more images from your recently FL trip. Carol

    ReplyDelete
  13. MichaelaMarch 30, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    Hey Kelly, I wish I could send you some spring flowers! Liebe Grüße!!!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Warren BakerMarch 30, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    That painting is better than some of my photo's Kelly :-)

    ....and that paints sounds good enough to eat :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. FABMarch 30, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    Ooooh .... I can see you had lots of fun with the new spreadable pastels. Simply beautiful. FAB.

    PS. I loved the compostion of the Sanderling in the previous post ... still waiting to see one this year.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beth NiquetteMarch 30, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    I have featured your wonderful art and blog on FATuesday Artist Spotlight. I found you through Steven Hunt.

    Your artwork just fills my eyes--which is the greatest compliment I can give.

    ReplyDelete
  17. KellyMarch 30, 2011 at 11:06 PM

    Grammie...thanks...it was comical to say the least!!

    Elaine...I am so far ahead of last year. If I stick to the schedule I think i only need to be at 26, so hopefully I can keep up this pace...that will let me do a few detailed paintings.

    aww thanks, mona! :-)

    Wanda...thank you! That was Matty's favorite part...they eye staring down.

    thank you, Chris!! :-) Glad to hear you are starting to feel a bit better.

    Carol...thank you...they are! I did some more experimenting tonight with rich darks...pretty cool. My Florida photos are stacking up. I need to get on the ball and get them out! :-)

    thank you, Kerri!!

    Mischi...thank you! I drew some flowers tonight...if they won't come to me, I'm coming to them! :-)

    Warren...haha! It is good enough to eat! :-) thank you....

    Frank...thank you. It truly is fun to paint with these pastels. When I do a detailed watercolor, it's relaxing and I have to think a lot, but when I do pastels, it's all feeling.....color...and fun. More feeling than thinking. I like switching back and forth between to the two. (I have a lot more Sanderling shots too, Frank.)

    Whoa.....cool! Thank you Beth. I'm heading over to check it out. What an honor!! Thank you so much!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Kathie BrownMarch 31, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    This one took my breath away! I can see the intensity in its gaze! Love it!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting! I love meeting other bird and nature lovers, so drop me a line!