Sunday, January 1, 2012

First Bird of 2012--Baeolophus bicolor!

This morning when I looked out the kitchen window to see what my first bird of the year would be, I saw nothing! Not a bird in sight, but within a second or two, a Tufted Titmouse flew up, nabbed a peanut from the mesh peanut holder, and looked up at me almost with a wink! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect bird to start the New Year...

A Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) Grabs a Peanut--watercolor sketch
Painting 1. Baeolophus bicolor Grabs a Peanut
(watercolor - just a few pencil lines and broad brush strokes, a quick sketch)

Tufted Titmouse sketch -- watercolor and colored pencil (quick and sloppy art!)
Painting 2. A Tufted Titmouse on New Year's Day
(watercolor heightened with colored pencil, another quick sketch)

a pencil sketch of a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolphus bicolor) from my sketchbook
...a pencil sketch of a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolphus bicolor) from my sketchbook.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year...with lots of peanuts!
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28 comments:

  1. MontanagirlJanuary 2, 2012 at 12:05 AM

    A perfect bird to start the New Year! You have such an amazing talent.

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  2. Betsy Banks AdamsJanuary 2, 2012 at 12:10 AM

    HI Kelly, The Tufted Titmice are some of my all-time favorite little birds... They come to our birdfeeders ALL year long..

    Happy New Year.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  3. ElaineJanuary 2, 2012 at 4:36 AM

    What a wonderful sighting to start the New Year, and what a lovely painting to start this year's challenge! Happy New Year to you and your family.

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  4. KaHollyJanuary 2, 2012 at 7:48 AM

    Just gorgeous!! My first bird of 2012 was the house finch - actually about 7 of them! They are a treat for me because I don't see them but rarely in Cape Breton. Don't I wish I could capture their beauty as you do! I'll just have to be satisfied with my mental image :)! Happy New Year! ~karen

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  5. Dan HuberJanuary 2, 2012 at 7:51 AM

    Fantastic Kelly - a wonderful cute bird to be first of the year - Happy New Year

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  6. Vicki HoldwickJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:34 AM

    I so love the titmouse, but miss his song this time of year. He is still here, but with the house closed up I seldom hear him.

    Love your blog and your paintings and sketches are wonderful.

    xoxo

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  7. Hilke BrederJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:42 AM

    Happy New Year, Kelly. I love your sketches, the way your sure hand, great sense of color and line makes the Titmouse come alive.

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  8. Wanda.....January 2, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    That's most likely the first bird I saw in the New Year too, Kelly! I put out peanuts for them too.

    From rainbows to snow....all in a few days, great ways for us to end and start the year! :)

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  9. RoyJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    Happy New Year, Kelly! BTW, today I'll be putting up my new feeder "complex" - a cedar tube feeder with perches at the holes, a suet cage, and a seed cake cage, all in line with my kitchen window. This is the first place I've lived where this has been possible.

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  10. holdingmomentsJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:56 AM

    Great way to start the year Kelly.

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  11. EJanuary 2, 2012 at 9:38 AM

    Beautiful art, Kelly, congratulations.
    Happy New Year too. Many hugs and the best to you. Thanks for sharing your art with us.

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  12. TexWisGirlJanuary 2, 2012 at 9:40 AM

    i love that first one - you captured the sparkle in his eye perfectly. (and i like the tufted tiddlywink name!)

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  13. Kerri FarleyJanuary 2, 2012 at 10:21 AM

    Oh I LOVE those TTs! They are such sweeties!
    and I LOVE seeing your sketches and paintings .... what a GIFT you have my friend!!

    Many Blessings to you and your family for 2012!!

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  14. Laure FerlitaJanuary 2, 2012 at 10:32 AM

    Welcome back to the challenge and what a super way to start off the new year—love Mr. Tiddlywinks!

    Happy New Year to you and yours, Kelly!

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  15. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2012 at 10:58 AM

    Oh, what a cutie! Sadly where I live now in Wisconsin is too far north for these little darlings, and I miss them.

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  16. grammie gJanuary 2, 2012 at 11:29 AM

    HI Kelley Ooooh I just love these guys ...those eyes!!
    You captured him so well ..great start to 2012!!
    Grace

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  17. UnknownJanuary 2, 2012 at 12:09 PM

    My favourite bird over the pond, great to have as your first for 2012, those paintings are wonderful too.

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  18. Claire MJanuary 2, 2012 at 4:02 PM

    What a great start on your painting challenge for 2012 and beyond! I'm going to be restarting again today and hope to actually get all 100 in this year!

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  19. Janice KJanuary 2, 2012 at 5:15 PM

    He's a cutie!

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  20. Carol MattinglyJanuary 2, 2012 at 6:20 PM

    Beautiful Kelly. Happy New Year to you. It's strange that the titmice was your first bird as I got up this morning there must have been six of them at the feeders. Carol

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  21. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2012 at 6:41 PM

    What I like about your sketches is their simplicity. It looks like 3 maybe 4 washes yet you capture the plumage beautifully. This is a great skill, as much of the eye as of the hand. Happy New Year.

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  22. Dawn FineJanuary 2, 2012 at 7:44 PM

    Happy New Year Kelly! Great way to start your year, a little birding and painting. Look forward to more of your art!

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  23. CubyJanuary 3, 2012 at 7:34 AM

    What delightful drawings of beautiful bird that I have never heard of.

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  24. Pasadena AdjacentJanuary 3, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    Happy New year - he is kind of cute

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  25. HeatherJanuary 3, 2012 at 6:33 PM

    What a perfect little companion with which to start the year. Wishing a wonderful 2012 to you, Rick, and Matty! I hope we'll run into each other a little more often, too!

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  26. KellyJanuary 3, 2012 at 6:34 PM

    ...thank you, everyone! I didn't get to see any titmice today. The ground is frozen, and a huge flock of Starlings came in and took over everything. I saw two cardinals, a blue jay, and a wren! The first time the ground freezes hard, the winter starling roost always descends to my yard and scares everything away. It will soon normalize. Glad I saw the titmouse on Jan 1!!

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  27. ksdoolittleJanuary 4, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    My second visit, but I just had to take another look!! Your work is so beautiful. ~karen

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  28. SadeuJanuary 8, 2012 at 1:24 PM

    very, very beautiful works : )

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