![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg5_mzFWM-9ymq3BJjNurBZ9CqlBth-4Dmgj2wqvqak_rLlLq9N41DrjrrbCm-yvZ-O26g1UciwB8L3HNbQKRtku_Y8Cp802uNS5e3bkIc52ICnR4jcS44u3Ar92XBbagBkg7ZXFXLGk/s400/P1000453.jpg) |
Cardinal, adult male |
Keeping our bird-feeder filled is a task -- even in summer when berries, seeds, etc., are readily available. The pay-off is that we have a wide variety of feathered visitors stopping by for a snack. Photographing birds is an exercise in patience, but I've been surprised at how many stay within range of my lens long enough for me to capture a few images.
The male cardinal in the photo at right was a regular visitor a few summers ago, and although somewhat shy, seemed almost proud of remaining within focus for a few minutes.
In my watercolor sketch, I took a few liberties with the setting -- adding some blue sky for contrast -- but tried to capture his leafy hide-away.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUQcNiBVSjos3RVIwW-6c8P3T0tCg2BjIiXWaMo8Pre27PlXCXxCszRCL5GMRa54fn21kDBQ60esXwSNJwB-T60cscTcC5EkBJDbMGOFlBCoQz_92kY1XpNL-Xr4aJa64zhgz5otSYwQ/s640/P1000496.jpg) |
"Male Cardinal" 6" x 6" SOLD |
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Goldfinch, adult male (right) with female Tufted Titmouse (left)
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Goldfinches are smaller and more skittish than cardinals. To capture them in a photo means waiting for just the right moment, with the camera aimed at the bird-feeder. I used the automatic shutter on my camera to take a series of shots in rapid succession, knowing that my painting would be a composite of several images. My goal was to get a good look at the coloration and shape of the goldfinch's beak, and then create a watercolor sketch that was reasonably faithful to the real thing. In the painting, I eliminated the bird-feeder and perched the finch on the edge of a large ceramic saucer that we fill with water for the birds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlI0TavdCZ83ric6S9tm4aXqVu_Dvb7OT6e39hv8vK4bL4Q9sjevNAN1M_skwY6DHBZRl-qaC84lsy2hFHuW3uJpFTtxpXUewL4ZurUWX0h1FeW57TefCtHTEDzVzVfyUEVvPnC_WPNw/s200/P1000189.jpg) |
Goldfinch, adult male |
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Half-way through the process... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuSfgL9lBMLTzwy3-TULQs3AEHJN7x5fUOAfu13ZHJMwZsXLuFE_YQ0mNQ9rWxhl81fh870qEWCAUMT1txTo0Jm6kG-XGS7Rv84_okgzpo4YIG7V3dtolXIjbGndlKbNiMJVnfNmh9Zo/s640/Goldfinch+sketch+%25281%2529.jpg) |
"Goldfinch" 7.5" x 5.5" |
Several Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks showed up late one afternoon at our feeder. I hadn't seen any of these for decades. I immediately thought of my grandmother, who was diligent about scattering seed for the birds and who taught me many of their names.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NNHR9nnNh8HZYrHtNkRhRqZN975sGzJHNPaEgnomPyJK-izbSDdm59zeeIn4zhOPJXfUsuKS0Rhfqc4LmuA8jwcbmfNUjulHKTo2OUfFijDD4HbIsUFcKm8Mqq6s_80fZKEKBklVDkQ/s320/P1030945.jpg) |
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, adult male |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_3KkHKqEjTAnFAVXBsJfNEN9xBh_lRUYs2zffKc_4MfvlvA1Qjm7pVgW44RSEVaf-M1YYXQKNxdvvHFpM-mDU_CqeFkAmUoN8TfRumf2gJC8e6ZW7Xl7ufJOyw29PEUsEFL5Ff4wfbE/s400/P1030973.jpg) |
Young male Grosbeak, fed by adult male |
But the bright red bib and sleek black feathers, which are quite distinctive, made it easy to identify. wasn't easy to get a good shot of this very busy bird. He was perched at the feeder along with a young male, and I learned from the Audubon "Guide to North American Birds" that adult males often feed their younger counterparts.
When planning my watercolor sketch, I referred to a photo of a House Sparrow that I took the same afternoon as the Grosbeaks. I thought the sparrow's pose would work well as it has a more dynamic aspect than a bird simply pecking away at the feeder with its face half-hidden.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz84ih4dlG66MM9Sivvej6soITMze4bVy3BkrbObi9nUv-5bAydvH8TdTLVWAUEbf1dXNXmht2drDyi-ErdxlQPyTRwJG21COHSWPScbK4jbhurFprZYctxKkjHoYfmFLy2A9zZ7sL8Hc/s400/P1030885+2.jpg) |
House Sparrow |
The sparrow's pose also would show the adult male Grosbeak's red bib to better advantage.
Rather than placing the bird at the edge of the feeder, I sketched in a small branch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQ7vfmeMPMgfPZrFVC7TITZth4ITYgpAZkQrN82Kfjt1wwkJ0bdzL0t4oErCm2QMXyHdZnYTdQvCkd2wh_f-s999hV8w1cNLIv0kj76ZgmM2s8jJXO_haiQE-L-gOLWBNNcG7Dw5joLc/s640/Rose+Breasted+Grosbeak%252C+Adult+male.jpg) |
"Rose-Breasted Grosbeak" 5.5" x 7.5" |