Platte River Perch

Platte River Perch__a study for larger commission

Like yesterday's post, this one was painted en plein air along a remote stretch of the Platte River in western Nebraska. I am working on a commission...groups of works for a ranch there. My friend, Tina came with me, and drove the "mule" while I photographed and painted...we had a blast!...This snaggy tree near the bank was a landmark for us, and every time we drove past, there was a different type of bird there. We saw turkeys at the base, then in the branches we saw, kingfisher, a cormorant or a grebe, hawks and eagles, and a king bird...I can't decide whether to put an eagle or a hawk in the final painting, but it will NOT be the awkward looking thing I painted here. I call this one a "hawkle"

 

 MY FAVORITE type of work is WHATEVER takes me OUTSIDE, on farms and ranches...ANYWHERE in America. I enjoy the process of discovering a location, getting to know it's light and shadows, and hopefully hanging around long enough to see changing weather and seasons.

These days, while in the midst of my Birdseed Project, I am noticing BIRDS and the role they play in the MOOD of a place

43- Hawk Greens

 Hawk Greens__8x6 oil on panel__$350

#43 in the Birdseed Project

 

Yesterday's post was this same red-tailed hawk. Click to read the story and to see a BETTER IMAGE than what you saw yesterday.

Hawks are my younger son's favorite birds, and to watch them in the fields hunting is a thrill! Below is a recent video (sped up!) of me painting a hawk!

Take a look!

 

 

42 - Red Shouldered Hawk

 

Red Shouldered Hawk__8 x 6 oil on linen panel__$350

#42 in the Birdseed Project

Please read about this important project at the link above, and consider donating!

I painted this from a photo I took of this magnificent bird out in the wild!...Yes, the busy Austin intersection of Parmer Lane and McNiel Road is a VERY wild place! That's where I saw this hawk as I drove by during rush hour! I circled back and went through the intersection again, pulling onto the shoulder and parking RIGHT NEXT to the fence wire where he perched.

Usually hawks are wary and will fly away if you park too close. This one was used to traffic and stayed long enough for me to get a BUNCH of pictures. I watched him (her?) searching the small field area for mice (or something), and flying from fence post to tree and back. He (she) actually outlasted me, and was still there after my memory card filled up and I had to drive away.

Cowgirl Quick Draw Video

Cowgirl Hawk___16 x 12 oil on panel__SOLD

 

WATCH THIS ONE BEING PAINTED!
 

 

Here is my Quick Draw Painting at Cowgirl Up! 2013

I derived it from photos and a painting I did a few weeks ago (which now belongs to M.D.!)

ENJOY the time lapse video created by Mike's Road Trip. I told him that all my friends would watch this and LIKE HIM on facebook....PLEASE do that!!!

This painting is not available, and it is not part of my Birdseed Project. But the video is a blast!!! Watch it twice and turn up the music!

 

http://www.mikesroadtrip.com/cowgirl-up-quick-draw/

 

https://www.facebook.com/MikesRoadTrip

36- Saguaro Hawk

 

Saguaro Hawk

12 x 9 oil___$550

#36 in the Birdseed Project

 

Hi Friends...I appreciate the notes of concern about my "absence"...again...First I will talk about today's ART! It's fun when I remember to take a picture of "step 1"...see below! You artists can look at these two pictures and almost "see" how I paint! I always look at step 1 and ask myself, "why did I go past that point?"...meaning, I usually like my "start" better than my "finish"  :)  Would love to hear from my artist friends about what you think, or if you have a question about how I got from "step 1" to "step 10" ...notice I did not bore you with pics of the middle steps :)

 

I came home from South Carolina to find a VERY SICK mom. She spent 2 weeks in hospital with pneumonia, and some other serious issues. At 89, her prognosis was not good...but, as "Mama Pedro", this was just a little blip in her routine! Of course, I was holding my breath...only exhaling to PRAY, but she seems on the road to recovery and is back at her nursing home!...I am back to feeding her birds, and asking y'all to pass the word about my birdseed project!  In fact PLEASE CLICK the link to read the latest news!!!

 God Bless Mom...and you ALL, too!

 

Saguaro Hawk---State 1

the "start"

Hawk Above Mocking

Hawk Above Mocking___9x12 oil on linen___$590 for Passing America: The Great Plains
A few months ago I posted (and sold) the little study for this one. IT is a scene I saw and photographed on our farm a few years ago, and I have seen it played out over and over again at farms all across the plains. The little birds have HUGE tempers when they feel that their territory is being threatened. No matter how big the enemy, these small mocking birds feel no fear when protecting their own!
The Rockport Art Festival was a great show, and my work won an award for best in media: PAINTING...So, now I get to go back next year!

Mock vs. Hawk

Mock vs. Hawk__6x6 oil on linen panel__painted for Sewe
I combined a few photos I took at the farm. Hawks were always flying over the fields and I loved to watch them and hear them scream. This day, a hawk was on a fence post and the mockingbird must have had a nest nearby. She could not tolerate the big hawk, and pestered it till it flew away, giving chase and nipping at tail feathers. I saw hawks carry big field rats and rip them to shreds, but for some reason, they never took on the mockingbirds!
vvaughan8@yahoo.com

Hawk Eye

Hawk Eye-Study____8x10 oil on linen panel____for SEWE

SEWE is the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and I will be headed there in a couple of weeks. The recent blog paintings have been a preview of my paintings for this year's show. I worked this one from a photo I took at the show last year. Someone was "showing off" this bird, so I got real close...Come see me at SEWE, Feb. 11-14...it is one BIG party in Charleston, SC.

Hawk Lookout

Hawk Lookout__8x6 oil study on linen for the SEWE show, unless you want it! $190

I type this during halftime....(How 'bout them Cowboys!) ...and was wishing this was an EAGLE, so I could call it Eagle Lookout! ...Sorry for the football talk, but I am a bit of a FAN. I have ALWAYS been a football geek (ask to see my sketches from when I was 7 years old!!)
For you artists: I painted this from a photo I shot at our farm. We had hawks everywhere. The middle-dark-blue background was actually the UNDERPAINTING for a lot of winter mesquite branches, but, gee, would YOU put them in? Me either! Lesson here is: LOOK UP from time to time as you paint. You may actually FINISH the work before you planned to!
For more...COME TO MY WORKSHOP on Feb 5 -7. We will sketch some animals from life (during the day), in between sunrises and moonrises! It will probably be warm in Texas that weekend! e-mail for info vvaughan8@yahoo.com