Untamed Land

Untamed Land
Untamed Land

Saturday, October 17, 2015

The Dark Jays and Stuff

This is a detail shot of my latest painting, ' The Dark Jays'. Before I show more of it I will post a few random things that I have photographed in recent weeks.
First is just some Brown Bear tracks in the mud at Potter Marsh.
Also at Potter Marsh, Mallards and Green-winged Teal. Those are just about the only ducks that have not migrated south yet.
Fall colors along Chester Creek.
I tried to come up with an unconventional perspective on Fall foliage. Easier said than done.
Snow on the sides of the bike path. UAA in the background.
Maple trees are not native to this part of the state. This is an ornamental tree beside the hospital.
Wet Maple leaves on the sidewalk. We have been getting an immense amount of rain in recent weeks and only one snowstorm last month. I'll take the rain any day.
I photographed these Steller's Jays gathering nesting material earlier this Spring. It was the inspiration for this new painting.
Another detail photo of the same painting.
The entire painting. It is 11x14" and the actual painting looks better than the photo.

5 comments:

John Holmes said...

I think Steller's Jays are really charismatic...great subject for a painting.

john said...

Thanks for your comment John. Steller's Jays range from the Anchorage area, all the way down to Guatemala. As you go further south, Steller's Jays become lighter in color with more extensive white facial markings. The Steller's Jays in Arizona tend to have taller crests, while Guatemala birds have the shortest.

Jeremy Pearse said...

Great painting and very nice composition too. I saw Steller's Jay in the Pacific Northwest and most do a painting of this bird one day. I have it all worked out in my head - just need to find the time to do it.

John Holmes said...

I've seen them in Yosemite - there they must have "medium-size" crests, not that I'd notice.

john said...

Jeremy, I would love to see your take on the subject.