Winter Titmouse
2018 . acrylic on canvas . 18″ x 24″
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Out our kitchen window is a Dogwood tree that froze over one winter. We have images of different wildlife in it, including Cardinals and Raccoons, however, this one to me was such a beautiful scene with the Titmouse almost disappearing in the colors. It looked so cold.
This was a challenge to pull off all the light blues and other pastels but keep the definition in the limbs wrapped in ice with the weight of icicles bending the limbs down. Adjustments were required to the angles of almost all of the icicles. As the limbs got heavier with the continued freezing rain, the icicles tended to angle more toward the bottom left corner. That looked awkward for the painting and unrealistic.
One thing I like to do is leave areas where my pencil work and under paint sketching shows up. It’s pretty evident in this piece. I love to look into a painting and see a history of progression. This one kept it visible.
I have to give my wife some credit on this one as she taught me about the shapes of the Titmouse. Debra (DebraYaun.com) is quit a wildlife artist and I have a tremendous amount of respect for her knowledge and works of art.
