New Miniature Bird Painting Complete!

Titmouse Series Two
India Ink, Colored Pencil, and Watercolor on Art Board
5" by 5"
Available here on Etsy or directly from my blog (right hand column)
Finally finished "Titmouse Two" today and I am very pleased with the little painting (the watermark of my name does not appear on the original). This is the second in a series of three little paintings I have been focusing on. In this "Tufted Titmouse" series, I am working larger than the ACEO size of 2.5" by 3.5" that I've used (almost exclusively) for the last five years.

The support I am using is called Art Board and is a 5" by 5" by 1.5" surface. These Art Boards have Arches Cold Press 156 lb watercolor paper mounted to Natural Fiber Panels. The panels are about 1/2 thick with little holes on the back so they are ready to hang. The Arches Watercolor Paper is mouldmade in France with 100% cotton fiber content, pH neutral and gelatin sized.

The third piece in this series may be a while forthcoming because it is time to turn my attention to illustrating my new children's book; Duncan's Magic Garden .

My friend on Twitter; mikeyboy50, gave me permission to use his beautiful photographs as reference (thank you Mikey). Mikey's photographs of birds give me endless inspiration and his friendship is always uplifting! Make sure to check out his website.

Here is a thumbnail of Titmouse One (still available for sale) and more information about the miniature painting can be found here

Two Bunny Bookmark Designs

These Desert Cottontail bookmarks (with the saying) can be purchased here on ArtFire and Etsy ~or~ (without the saying) can be purchased here on ArtFire and Etsy

Tonight I designed a few new bookmarks from my miniature paintings. I use a graphics program in which I digitally dismantle my own original art and then reassemble it in these bookmark format. Each bookmark is signed by the artist and dated. They measure 2.25 inches by 7 inches and the heavy protective plastic sleeve which surrounds it measures 2.5 inches by 7 inches with an extra 1.5 inch area from which to hang a favorite tassel. They are printed from my Epson Printer with Archival Ink on Epson Archival Paper with a Matte finish. Thanks to my friends calumhall, homeschoolbks, and HeatherKentArt on Twitter for your suggestions of bunnies tonight.

More Work On New Miniature Painting

I hope your holiday celebration was as full of love and gratitude as mine was this year! Now that the "big day" has passed and things are moving closer to a normal routine again, I have settled down to work on my new series of miniature art paintings. In this "Tufted Titmouse" series, I am working larger than the ACEO size of 2.5" by 3.5" that I've worked in (almost exclusively) for the last five years. The support I am using is called Art Board and is a 5" by 5" by 1.5" surface.
mi
These Art Boards have Arches Cold Press 156 lb watercolor paper mounted to Natural Fiber Panels. The panels are about 1/2 thick with little holes on the back so they are ready to hang. The Arches Watercolor Paper is mouldmade in France with 100% cotton fiber content, pH neutral and gelatin sized.

This painting is the second in my series which depicts a Tufted Titmouse. Between sessions of illustrating my new children's book; Duncan's Magic Garden, I hope to create a series of three 5"x5" paintings done in watercolor, India ink, and colored pencil.

My friend on Twitter; mikeyboy50, gave me permission to use his beautiful photographs as reference (thank you Mikey).

Here is a thumbnail of Titmouse One and more information about the miniature painting can be found here

Watercolor Background On New Miniature

I am excited about this next watercolor phase for my latest miniature painting. I am working larger than the usual ACEO size of 2.5" by 3.5" that I've worked in almost exclusively for the last five years. The support is called Art Board, a 5" by 5" by 1.5" surface. Previously, on the small format of ACEOs, I found it difficult to really play with watercolor washes, so this has been fun to work a little larger.

These Art Boards have Arches Cold Press 156 lb watercolor paper mounted to Natural Fiber Panels. The panels are about 1/2 thick with little holes on the back so they are ready to hang. The Arches Watercolor Paper is mouldmade in France with 100% cotton fiber content, pH neutral and gelatin sized.

This painting is the second in my series which depicts a Tufted Titmouse. Between sessions of illustrating my new children's book; Duncan's Magic Garden, I hope to create a series of three 5"x5" paintings done in watercolor, India ink, and colored pencil.

My friend on Twitter; mikeyboy50, gave me permission to use his beautiful photographs as reference (I meet THE most wonderful people on Twitter).

Here is a little thumbnail of Titmouse One and more information about the miniature painting can be found here

Happy Solstice And Next Step On Titmouse

Happy Winter Solstice! This is the shortest day of the year, and we can now look forward to the days growing just the smallest amount longer. All my Christmas decorations are done, the gifts are mostly wrapped...kids are nearly out of school, cards sent...its a lovely feeling. I finally found time to work some more on the second painting in my series which depicts a winter bird known as the Tufted Titmouse. Between sessions of illustrating my new children's book; Duncan's Magic Garden, I hope to create a series of three 5"x5" paintings done in watercolor, India ink, and colored pencil.

My friend on Twitter; mikeyboy50, gave me permission to use his beautiful photographs as reference (thanks Mikey!).

I'm using a product called Art Boards which have Arches Cold Press 156 lb watercolor paper mounted to Natural Fiber Panels. The panels are about 1/2 thick with little holes on the back so they are ready to hang. The Arches Watercolor Paper is mouldmade in France with 100% cotton fiber content, pH neutral and gelatin sized.

Here is a little thumbnail of Titmouse One and more information about the miniature painting can be found here

A %30 OFF After X-Mas Ornament Sale

A five day after Christmas ornament sale starting today, December 26 and going through December 31. In my Art Gift Shop I have over 200 cute little animal and fantasy art Christmas ornaments. I just thought I would let all my sweet blog followers know!

Two New Greeting Cards

With the temps sliding way down below zero in New England tonight, I designed a two unique handmade Christmas cards.

These little greeting cards are from my original miniature paintings. One painting is a little Chickadee bird and one a Deer in the moonlight. I also use a graphics program to redesign my original art so that it better fits this greeting card format. The cards measure 4.25 inches by 5.50 inches, (when opened they are half a sheet of letter size card stock).

You can buy the Deer and Moonlight greeting card here on:

ArtFire
Etsy

The Chickadee greeting card can be purchased here on:

ArtFire
Etsy

Winter Bird Series Next Step

I worked a little more on the second painting in my series which features a winter bird known as the Titmouse. Taking a break from illustrating my new children's book; Duncan's Magic Garden, I hope to create a series of three 5"x5" paintings done in watercolor and colored pencil.

My friend on Twitter; mikeyboy50, gave me permission to use his beautiful photographs as reference (thanks Mikey!).

I'm using a product called Art Boards which have Arches Cold Press 156 lb watercolor paper mounted to Natural Fiber Panels. The panels are about 1/2 thick with little holes on the back so they are ready to hang. The Arches Watercolor Paper is mouldmade in France with 100% cotton fiber content, pH neutral and gelatin sized. So far, I love the surface!

Here is a little thumbnail of Titmouse One and more information about the miniature painting can be found here

Remembering Baby Sparrow

A few years ago I had the joy and honor of rescuing a baby Sparrow! Above are two small paintings I did in memory of this little bird, and below is a series of posts and a slide show documenting her brief time with me.

I have included excerpts from my previous blog entries documenting those ten days, but I really wanted to convey the feeling I experienced in "rehabilitating" this little creature. She was so small when I found her, dirty, helpless and frightened in the dust of the barn floor. The miracle that she survived the first night was moving in itself! The dramatic changes that evolved in just a few days and the way that she actually looked me in the eye with trust and understanding will leave a lasting memory. I hope I can always remember the sensation of those tiny feet wrapped around my finger with just the most delicate of pressure as she learned to balance herself and then to fly. Maybe someday Daisy will come back to visit me, but if not, the memory of sharing ten days with her will always be sweet.



For the ten days that "Daisy" was with me, my whole family made minor adjustments to accommodate this little angel. Feeding a baby bird requires unlimited patience and dedication because they eat every 45 minute from dawn to dusk. Then, it's crucial that the bird learns to fly, take dust baths, and eat seed rather than formula fed by hand. All of this I actually found to be a labor of love and our children helped whenever they could.

Blog entries:

August 30th, 2007

I found a baby House Sparrow at the barn where my horse Little Bit lives. The barn was in the process of being re-roofed and her nest was knocked down. With much loud equipment and many tromping feet of the roofers barely missing this wee little thing as she lay in the dust on the barn floor, I had to help her. I know the proper thing to do with a baby bird is to return it to it's nest or at least leave it where it was found so that mom can care of it on the ground, but this just was not an option, so she came home with me! After quite a bit of research online I learned what I needed to do to care for her and I learned that House Sparrows are one of the three wild birds in this country that,( being an introduced breed) are legal to raise in your home. And so begins this delightful journey raising baby Sparrow.

September 1, 2007

Baby Sparrow has grown so much just over night! She really enjoys hanging out with me on my finger while I sit at the computer. Soon I will have to help her practice flying.

September 3, 2007

Little Sparrow is beginning to act like she could start eating seeds, (I don't have any on hand and its a holiday here so it will have to wait until tomorrow) she has been pecking at the floor of her enclosure. She flew a few feet today, from my hand back to her house...so cute! I am looking forward to getting her cage so I can place her outside to hear the other birds and smell the fresh air! I will certainly give her natural branches to perch on. I hope she wont be so tame that she cant become a member of the outdoor bird family. I will just take it slowly and watch her carefully


Sept 4th, 2007

This morning little bird flew halfway across the room, took a dust bath in dry oatmeal and ate some bird seed!

Sept 7th, 2007

"Daisy" as my daughter has named her, has had a taste of freedom and now REFUSES to go back into her cage. (cant blame her really considering she is a wild little bird) This is so cute, she found a comfy spot on my curtains and fluffed into a sleepy ball.

Sept 9th, 2007

Daisy flew out into the wild blue. Its very bittersweet! Once she discovered how to fly, there was just NO way of keeping her in a cage. Then this morning she discovered the other birds outside the window and was beating herself against the window pane...so I opened it. Off she shot! I am not sure she was completely ready, but she certainly thought so. For a while I could hear her in the big trees across my yard, then she was gone. The window is open, if she needs to come back for soft food. I am just a little sad.


Find Melody's Animal Art here: 

Free Christmas Print

"Winter Chickadee"
ACEO (3.5" by 2.5")
Originally done in Colored Pencil and India Ink

Happy Holidays everyone!!
The first ten people who leave a comment here on my blog WIN a print of this charming little Chickadee and snow (one of my favorite ACEO-miniature paintings that I created in 2007).

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Remember to your mailing address (if you live out of the country I will need to ask for shipping costs, usually $2.00).

Winter Bird Series Two Begins

On a day that looked like this->
I started the second painting in my series which depicts a little winter bird known as the Titmouse. Taking a break from illustrating my new children's book; Duncan's Magic Garden, I hope to create a series of three 5"x5" paintings done in watercolor and colored pencil.

My friend on Twitter; mikeyboy50, gave me permission to use his beautiful photographs as reference (thanks Mikey!).

I'm using a product called Art Boards which have Arches Cold Press 156 lb watercolor paper mounted to Natural Fiber Panels. The panels are about 1/2 thick with little holes on the back so they are ready to hang. The Arches Watercolor Paper is mouldmade in France with 100% cotton fiber content, pH neutral and gelatin sized. So far, I love the surface!

Here is a little thumbnail of Titmouse One and more information about the miniature painting can be found here

Above, Winter Bird Series (Titmouse Two) Work In Progress -1

Winter Bird Christmas Card

As the first New England snowfall is drifting down outside, I designed a unique handmade Christmas card.

This little greeting card is from my recent painting which depicts a small winter bird called the Tufted Titmice. I have also used a graphics program to redesign my original art so that it better fits this greeting card format. The card measures 4.25 inches by 5.50 inches, (when opened they are half a sheet of letter size card stock). My friend on Twitter mikeyboy50, gave me permission to use his beautiful photographs as reference (thanks Mikey!).

Buy the little greeting card here (on Etsy), or here (on Artfire).

Original art (Info. here )
still available for
$99.00

Can be purchased here or here

My Sister's Words

Adrian, or Ade as we call her, is my oldest sister. She homesteads in Alaska but has set up camp in hot, dusty suburban Bakersfield, California, (as much of a contrast to her Alaska wilderness as your could find) most of this year to care for our elderly mom. Every month or so the rest of us three kids pitch in so that Ade can go home to her ice and snow for a while. I thought you might like to meet this remarkable woman who is my big sister and read some of her written works of art.

"A Turning Tide Going Out"
by Adrian Eve Revenaugh
(who keeps a blog called: Alaskan In The Hinterlands )



My message is written and stoppered in amber glass stout and battered
Now to walk back to the redwoods where I last saw the sea wild
I'll toss it with a might to just the right current and stay
high on the outcropping, watching as it glints away.

Old woman return now down the well worn path
Cozy-up in a cabin built by love and wonder till you're frail,
what might come of your heart's desire.

The wind is mixing with birch smoke
It's sweetness is fluttering across the face of the moon
I can hear the tide low against the shore
Light, careful foot steps, swishing in the beach grass.

My heart jumps and eyes tingle. Imagine.