I'm continuing with my dove studies, this time the subject is our local Mourning Dove. About a week ago Jorge took a fantastic photo of this species, which I used for the detailed pencil sketches - including the light blue orbital skin! I tried to keep the watercolor a little looser, using mostly a #12 Round, and painted the eye with a #0 Round. 

Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura, pencil and watercolor

Why not drop in a photo of my brushes too...

The fine brush is a #0 Round, the larger a #12 Round

There's a songbird that defends its little patch of Horsebarn Hill, and until today it had managed to elude the photographer. The home turf of a Northern Mockingbird is usually a south-facing berry-producing thicket or shrub. It sits facing the sun and chases off perceived intruders, but always fled as soon as Jorge rolled down the car window to get a photo.

Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos, Horsebarn Hill, Storrs Connecticut

AiA Challenge hits a rainy day

January 18th - it poured rain all day today, turning every surface to a sheet of ice once the temperature dropped.  Our yard birds kept up their steady activity at the feeders, though, with titmice in good numbers.

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor). Colored pencil and sharpie marker.
January 18, 2015. Willington, Connecticut, USA.

Jorge has often seen this mockingbird near where he works - but recently it had been elusive until today!

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
January 18, 2015, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.