Spotted pardolotes – mixed media series

I have been making mixed media art with papers and ink. I love mixed media – it is a lot of fun. Four of them featured spotted pardolotes which are a small bird but my interests in them goes back to primary school. I was living in Victoria, Australia. I think it was the Gould League and I drew a spotted pardolote for a competition – I was happy with the result but unfortunately I don’t have the drawing. I love spots on birds – pardolotes, brown pigeons, guinea fowls and so on.

I created 4 mixed media pieces – Bush Pocket, Chance for a birdsong, Morning Light and Special Haven.

My Flower Garden

My Flower Garden
My Flower Garden

I have begun this painting by using charcoal to sketch the little flowers I can see from the verandah – drawing in plein aire, so to speak. I don’t want this drawing to formulate the painting – even though I have sketched an idea, I want the oil paints to take over and dictate the composition. I think it is interesting to watch the progression of a painting, and sometimes it changes totally. The size of the canvas won’t change though – this one is 75cm by 90cm.