Friday, May 29, 2009
Cardinal Pair
Cardinal Pair
This painting is 7 x 5", oil on board, unframed
Cardinals hold a special place in our hearts! They are the state bird of Ohio and also have the honor of being the state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia----no other bird is honored by more states!
Cardinals are certainly easy to spot, especially the male, whose brilliant plumage is a lovely contrast to both a snowy or summer-green landscape. Cardinals mate for life and will inhabit the same vicinity for years. Accurate or not, we think we recognize "individual" cardinals in our own back yard and we are lucky to have a large number that live nearby. This pair are two of our favorites!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Screech Owl
Thanks to all who viewed and bid on the painting
Screech Owl
This painting is 7 x 5", oil on board, unframed
SOLD
Throughout history the owl has had supernatural powers in many different cultures. The Chinese believed that owls would steal your soul and death was near. In Italy if an owl is heard outside the home of someone who is sick, he will be dead in three days. Pregnant women in France who hear the shriek of an owl will give birth to a girl. In Wales if a young woman hears an owl, she is about to lose her virginity. Some North American Indian tribes believed eating an owl's eye would help them see at night. In times of disease and famine, the Japanese would place pictures of owls on their houses in hopes that their home would be spared.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Belted Kingfisher
Thanks to all who viewed and bid on the painting
Belted Kingfisher
This painting is 5 x 7", oil on board, unframed
SOLD
Legend says that Noah sent the kingfisher out to look for land. The kingfisher flew high in the sky (thus her blue back) but so close to the sun that it scorched her breast. Noah was so upset that he made the kingfisher stay on the deck of the ark and catch her food from the water.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Harris Hawk
Thanks to all the viewers and bidders
Harris Hawk
This painting is 6 x 8", oil on board, unframed
SOLD
Harris hawks are found most abundantly in southern Texas, southeast New Mexico and south and central Arizona. They have been reported in Nevada, Utah and Oklahoma and have been reintroduced along the Colorado River in California. If you live elsewhere and think you have spotted a Harris hawk, it could well be true. Because they are popular in falconry, "escapees" can be found just about anywhere. The Harris hawk was named for Edward Harris, a friend of Audubon.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mothers' Day
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Hooded Merganser
Thanks to all the viewers and bidders
Hooded Merganser
This painting is 5 x 7", oil on board, unframed
SOLD
Hooded mergansers are certainly one of Nature's marvels! The drake is able to completely change his appearance by raising his crest, displaying a spectacular "hood" and looking completely different from the duck he was just a few seconds before. Mergansers are relatively small and are the only endemic North American fish-ducks. They are quite shy, secretive and retiring but if you are fortunate enough to spot one you too might understand some of the colloquial names bestowed upon these beautiful creatures: Cottonhead, Fuzzhead, Wirecrown, Hairycrown, Fan-crest, Mosshead, Frog Duck.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Spring Designs
Friday, May 1, 2009
Impalas
Thanks to all the watchers and bidders
Impalas
This painting is 5 x 7", oil on board, unframed
SOLD
Impalas are one of the 89 species of even-toed ungulates in Africa. We observed these graceful beauties at Sweetwaters in Kenya. Impalas are a medium-sized antelope with lovely long necks and limbs. They are able to jump 8 feet high and distances of over 30 feet. Impalas run on their tiptoes, as do all ungulates. They are usually found near a source of water.
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