Nightingale

I would welcome your opinions. Before I take this painting any further I was wondering whether you think I should close it's beak! It is a nightingale and the idea was that they are known for their beautiful song, but my Aunt said it look startled and now I am worried. What do you think?

The Birds

Here are a couple of closeups of the Carolina Wren which I am doing for the show on Sanibel Island. Deadline is the end of November, so I have been really busy trying to get these finished. I am taking off this weekend though to go to Norfolk and if the weather co-operates I shall be taking photos and painting. I am looking forward to getting out and about, but this morning it's very windy, so hopefully that will die down by the weekend. I am really looking forward to walking on the beach!

Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove
10 x 12 Oil/Panel

Here is one of my submissions to the Albuquerque Museum Miniature exhibition. I have been invited to exhibit every year for the last nine years. It's a great honour and always a wonderful show.

6 days to go until I leave for England!

My upstairs studio!

I am racing against time to get all the paintings I have been doing during my stay here with my Dad finished. I am hoping to return on 23rd March to New Mexico ... ABW as my Aunt Agnes says. (All being well!) I have to come back to keep my alien status current, but I just hate leaving Dad. He is doing so much better, but still, it's a little nerve-wracking.

I have also been trying to finish my triptych which I am going to submit to the Summer Exhibition ABW! ...I have never submitted before, so chances of getting accepted are pretty slim, but you have to try, don't you? I would post photo of those, but I just can't seem to get a good one. I will try later.

Things are getting better!

Dad is doing so well in comparison to a week ago and I am managing to get some work done at last. I have almost finished four little bird portraits and just started a landscape inspired some photos taken the other day when on my way to the hospital. It was such a gorgeous sunset and I risked slipping and sliding all over the road just to take them. Of course, it's snowing yet again. I have never ever experienced a winter like this in the UK. I know it's awful for some, but when I don't have to drive to the hospital and back, I am selfishly loving the wonderful scenery and inspiration.

Here's hoping things will get better and better.