Blue Heron Blue Snakes

"Blue Heron" detail

"Blue Heron" detail

"Blue Heron" detail

When I walk down the trail along the Cottekill swamp a flying blue heron is a fairly common sight.  I might initially glimpse one sitting on a limb or a fallen tree but once the bird sees me it usually takes off.  They are very shy.  I've exaggerated the bird's blue coloring in this painting. The true color is more subtle, more of a gray, better camouflage. To me they remain a startling sight when they fly off.  They are large and ungainly and their long thin legs stretch far out behind them.  Beautiful nonetheless.

Snakes live along the swamp's edge.  They can be big and startling as they slither quickly into the water.  Even shyer, I think, than the herons.  Maggie is intrigued but I quickly shoo her away.  I haven't learned yet which snakes are poisonous.  Since it's early in a cold spring there's not too much growing yet.  Mostly just the gorgeous emerald swamp cabbage.

This painting measures 7 x 9 inches (15 x 23cm). 
It's available in my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/276304442/original-watercolor-blue-heron-blue?ref=shop_home_listings
Prints of this painting are available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/290195037/art-print-original-watercolor-blue-heron?ref=shop_home_listings

New Watercolor, Winter Nest

"Winter Nest" detail

"Winter Nest" detail

"Winter Nest" detail

One of the best things about having a nosey dog is that she makes me wait.  While I don't like to let Maggie spend an eternity sniffing the same spot I do feel that since the walk is for her as well as for me she should have some time to explore.  She noses around, I look around.  A couple of weeks ago we were on the road near the Cottekill and Maggie stopped.  I looked up at the tall bushes in front of me on the edge of the creek and saw a small nest.  It was abandoned, of course, almost lost in the branches and I would have missed it but for the dog.  On the ground were some hydrangeas, dry and papery, a pretty straw color.

Here's the nest, caught in a tangle against a clear blue sky, hydrangeas below.  
This is a small painting, 4.5 x 6 inches.  
It's available in my shop.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/269730526/original-watercolor-painting-winter-nest?ref=shop_home_active_1

A Room With A View + Free Shipping

"A Room With A View" detail

"A Room With A View" detail

"A Room With A View" detail

I have to face it.  This winter here in the Hudson Valley is a dud.  I know, I know, there's still more winter to come but I can recognize a pattern when I see one.  This one says "No Snow."  And I love snow.

Recently I was out with Maggie in the gray afternoon thinking a pretty bouquet might lift my funk when I realized that I didn't have to go over to Green Cottage for flowers.  I could pick an interesting assortment of drying things; leaves of red and brown, gray-brown Queen Anne's Lace, and some of those other things, all appropriately decomposing like my mood.  But I felt my mood improving.  You can see in the photo of the things I chose that they made a pleasing arrangement.  I took them home, took that photo, and was about to place the weeds in a vase when I noticed all the little dust and seeds falling.  I began to sneeze wildly.  The bouquet ended up back in the woods but I had an image and an idea for a watercolor.

The drying bouquet is hanging, as you can see, tied with a ribbon.  I added the falling dust and seeds just for fun.  There are goats in my vicinity but not right next door.  The view out the window of goats in the snow is wishful.  

The original watercolor is 11" x 14" and available in my Etsy shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/265830673/watercolor-painting-original-a-room-with?ref=shop_home_active_1
Prints of the image are available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/265937368/art-print-original-watercolor-a-room?ref=listing-shop-header-1

And shipping is free on any order with this code, good through January 31.
FREESHIP

 

Work in Progress -- Herons

I've been asked a few times if I could show my progress on a painting so here goes.  This first image shows my light sketch and the beginning of the painting.  I've learned from experience that I should start on the important parts -- in this case the herons -- because if I'm not happy with the stars of the piece I will need to start again and I'd hate to throw away more work than I need to.  

"Herons"

I pass this pond on my daily rounds.  It's very close to a section of the rail trail that has a swamp with the most amazing array of birds, frogs, turtles, and snakes.  And beavers.  I usually see a single heron at the swamp without fail but one morning I saw this pair on the pond.  I had never seen a pair before and certainly never on the pond which is also close to a somewhat well traveled road.  It was early morning and still quiet and there they were, the happy couple.  The people who own the pond have planted dozens of daffodils.  The purple phlox is wild.  It's everywhere, the rocks too.  I added the dashing squirrels because I love to watch them flying through the trees.

This is a large painting for me, 12 x 18".  It's watercolor and gouache.  You can find it in my shop, together with prints of the image in various sizes:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/234865593/watercolor-original-painting-herons?ref=shop_home_active_1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/234866381/art-print-original-watercolor-herons?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Bluebirds in a country setting

There are bluebirds here in the Hudson Valley.  They appear to be resident and they are not in the least bit unusual.  I clearly remember the first time I saw them flitting around my yard.  Although I'd never seen a bluebird in my life I recognized them immediately, what else could they be?  They looked like the little birds that dressed Sleeping Beauty and I felt like I might have fallen into a Disney special.  They are quiet little birds, extremely blue with peach breast feathers.  I first saw them in the spring and was surprised to still see them when the weather turned very cold.  The silly phrase "bluebird of happiness" comes to mind.  They are pretty and bright and not obviously aggressive like other birds I could name.  So if they are a good omen, and why not think so, I'm glad they stick around all year long.

The image above is a 9 x 12 inch (23 x 30cm) watercolor and gouache painting.  
It's available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/225343590/original-watercolor-painting-bluebirds?

The images below are small studies for "Bluebirds in a Country Setting."  
They are also watercolor and gouache, 6 x 6 inches (15 x 15cm).  They are available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/222544043/watercolor-painting-original-bluebird-in?ref=listing-shop-header-2

https://www.etsy.com/listing/222538885/watercolor-painting-original-bluebird-in?ref=listing-shop-header-3

And as a hurrah that Spring seems to finally be making an appearance please use this code to take 15% off any purchase in my shop:  SPRING15
Code is good until Friday March 20.

"Bluebird in Summer."  Study for "Bluebirds in a Country Setting."

"Bluebird in Winter."  Study for "Bluebirds in a Country Setting."

Bears in my yard...again

This is a new painting of three bears in my front yard.  I've titled it "Maggie" because of the dog standing near the red barn.  Maggie, as it turns out, is pretty smart, especially for a very nosey dog.  I've never known a dog so interested in absolutely everything but she knew better than to investigate the bears.  The mother bear was very aware of Maggie, standing at one point and staring right at her.  For some reason I wasn't particularly concerned but I did keep an eye on the dog from the side of the house, ready to grab her and dash in the house if I had to.

This is a watercolor and gouache painting, 11 x 14".  The painting itself and prints of the painting are available in my Etsy shop.  You can find them here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/222738890/watercolor-painting-original-maggie-dog
https://www.etsy.com/listing/221113089/art-print-original-watercolor-maggie-dog?ref=shop_home_active_1

New Work -- Circle Avenue, Kingston NY

"Circle Avenue" detail

"Circle Avenue" detail

I was in the Stockade sitting at the bar having a glass of red. A woman sat down next to me.  We struck up a conversation and when I told her where I lived she said we were practically neighbors.  She said she lived on Circle Avenue, very close. I'd never heard of Circle Avenue. It turns out Circle Avenue is a couple of miles from me, circular, and completely charming.  The houses are close together at odd angles, painted an assortment of colors.  It feels cozy and private.  I think it might be nice to live there.  I saw dogs but the goats are invention.  Or maybe a suggestion.

The painting is 6 x 6 inches (15 x 15 cm), watercolor and gouache on board.
It's available in my Etsy shop.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/216656451/watercolor-painting-original-circle

Zines! Workshop & Gallery Show

"Weeds" Zine Reverse

Zine Front Close-up

"Zine" show

"Zine" show

Last month I attended a "Zine" workshop at Roos Gallery, a nice little gallery in my town of Rosendale.  There were two artists instructing us in various ways of folding, assembling, writing and printing our zines.  They also told us about the history of zines that started out as "Fanatic Magazines", primarily produced on photocopiers by fans that followed rock bands and wanted to help promote them.  Heige Kim, who owns and operates Roos Gallery, put out a call for entries for a December "Zine" show.  All would be exhibited and all would be for sale.  Perfect timing for interesting Christmas shopping.

Last weekend the "Zine "show opened with dozens of entries created by dozens of artists.  The creative community has embraced the zine and they're not just about favorite rock bands anymore -- they covered personal philosophy, poetry, illustrations, cartoons, favorite quotes and more. They were simple, complicated, photocopied, computer generated, professionally printed, hand painted, stapled, stitched, colorful, and simple black & white.  It was a wonderful show.  My entry is shown above, my "Weeds" paintings put to a new use.  

New Paintings, New Prints!

"Wild Roses"

"Tall Weeds and Spider Webs"

"Tall Weeds" detail

"Tall Weeds" detail

Today I've listed some new paintings and prints in my Etsy shop.  Several of the paintings are part of a series I'm working on, a series of "Weeds."  I'm enjoying this topic.  There are so many pretty, interesting weeds just about anywhere you look.  Besides just looking at the weeds along the roadside and at the many, many in my own yard, I'm learning some things.  For instance, I never noticed that Queen Anne's Lace has a single deep purple blossom right in its pure white center.
Stop by and see what's new!  
I'm offering free shipping on any order through August 15.  Use this code at checkout:
FREESHIP

https://www.etsy.com/shop/NatalieWargin