On The Tip Of Their Bill?

Today’s weird bird has an unusually shaped beak! What would YOU name this bird?

This got me thinking about bird beaks… and how do REAL birds taste their food?

Did you know that birds have a well-developed sense of taste and experience all four of the main tastes that humans do? (Sweet, sour, bitter and salty)

Humans taste with their tongues but birds generally have their taste buds on the roof and floor of their mouth. Many have at least a few taste buds close to the tip of their tongue bill so they can make a quick assessment of a food item as soon as they pick it up.

I learned these interesting facts from this bird book I recently purchased:

I’m hoping this book will help me draw and learn more about REAL birds this year!

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

Cheers! 😃

A Puzzler

Did you know that January is national puzzle month?

I have completed one 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle with Happy Buttons:

And I am working on a second one with Houseplants:

Sometimes my weird birds start out like a puzzle:

I started this trio in watercolor. Then I added a little paper collage:

Next, some details with color pencils:

And finished with pencil shading:

What kind of puzzles do YOU like to work on?

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

Cheers! 🙂

Jingle Jangle

Two little birds flew in to jingle jangle their bells last night…

Hoping your holidays are a delight!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Friends!

Cheers! 🙂

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks…

What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for many things, especially “nature” and its ability to soothe my soul in all four seasons in the Pacific Northwest where I live.

I try to get outside for some fresh air each day, even if it’s just a walk to the mailbox.

My cat, Jack walks around the backyard with me on the days when the sun is shinning.

I recently created an autumn themed mandala in watercolor using some leaves from my yard as inspiration. I also added iridescent watercolor for some sparkle.

I finished my piece with color pencils. I think I will frame this one!

Many thanks to each of you for your likes and kind comments on my blog this year.

Wishing you a day filled with Giving Thanks!

Cheers! 🙂

Spreading JOY

I am so proud of my nephew, Jerred Mace!

He is a design student at University of Washington and has created coffee sleeves with positive messages to spread JOY!

Check out his website: wjoyproject.com

Jerred is a very talented young man. He wrote a book of poetry that he self-published in High School. You can purchase a copy of it if you are interested, on his website.

If you are ever in Edmonds, WA on a Wednesday, please stop by Walnut Street Coffee for a cup of JOY!

Cheers! 🙂

A Pajama Party

You have heard of a cat’s pajamas, right?

Why not a bird’s pajamas?!

I got ideas from this book for their outfits:

What animal would YOU invite to a pajama party?

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

Cheers! 🙂

Stuffed Animals

I created this drawing based on the words from the assignment I told you about in my last post, “This might be impossible to read but it was fun to make.”

I had so much FUN drawing the stuffed animals and hiding the words.

Here is a close-up of the animals and words so you can read them.

Sometimes I don’t try ideas because I think they may be impossible to do! I’m glad I gave this one a try because I discovered stuffed animals are really quite easy to draw.

What would you like to learn to draw or paint if you didn’t have any obstacles in your way?

I hope you give your ideas a try!

Cheers! 🙂

Pie Birds

‘Tis the season for…

PIE!!

These three Pie Birds are a slice of happiness, don’t you agree?!

What is YOUR favorite kind of pie?

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

Cheers! 🙂

November Square-A-Day – Landscapes

I created landscapes from my imagination for my November Square-A-Day project.

Using a variety of art supplies, I explored simplicity with Copic markers, color pencils, watercolor, Gelli-plate prints and Pan Pastels.

“The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

I thought this quote summed up this month’s project perfectly!

Cheers! 🙂

A Weird Bug?

I interrupt this blogging break…

To show you this strange bug that appeared in my art journal:

Wednesday’s can be about weird birds…

And weird bugs!

One never knows what creative bug will land in my sketchbook next…

Happy Weird “Bug” Wednesday!

Cheers! 🙂