Fancy Frog

This fancy frog is a red-eyed tree frog, native to the tropics. As with most things in nature, this frog’s festive colors serve certain purposes. Its bright colors are defense mechanisms, and being green helps this amphibian blend in with leaves. If a predator spots a sleeping frog, it swoops in for a tasty meal, at which point the frog’s eyes pop open, revealing their vivid red color.

Fancy Frog

As the frog scrambles to get away, it untucks its brightly colored legs. The predator is so surprised by these sudden flashes of color that it is momentarily confused and hesitates, which gives the frog a split second to make its escape! How fascinating!

Portland Head Light

While visiting Maine in 2014, I was fascinated by the Portland Head Light at Cape Elizabeth because it stood so majestically at the cliff’s edge and somehow seemed to command respect of its visitors and the surrounding environment. As the oldest lighthouse in the state of Maine, the Portland Head Light has protected the cape and the adjacent areas since 1791 when it was first lit with 16 whale oil lanterns. It is still in use today with the U.S. Coast Guard maintaining the actual light and the fog signal, but the remainder of the property is managed by the Town of Cape Elizabeth.

Portland Head Lighthouse, Portland, Maine

I’ve painted this scene many times over the years in watercolor and colored pencil but recently found a tutorial by Paul Clark. With his lead, I was able to get the foreground and middle ground to look as they should and am finally pleased with the outcome. There is always more to learn!

Whidbey Sunset

When we traveled to the Pacific Northwest a few years ago, we stayed at a darling B&B in Coupeville, which is on Whidbey Island in Washington State. Coupeville is a quaint seaside town, and we enjoyed walking to the wharf to see vibrant starfish in the clear water beneath us. The wharf was peaceful except for the sound of gently lapping water and an occasional sea bird, and it was a fabulous spot to experience amazing sunsets.

Coupeville Wharf sunset, Whidbey Island, WA

This painting represents the moodiness of the sunsets we experienced there. (Sorry that the picture borders look so wonky, but I photographed it at an odd angle.) Hope you are doing well, and thanks for stopping by!

Dancing Dolphin

It was interesting to paint in monochromatic blues, and it’s all about getting the values right. I trust that this dancing dolphin brings a smile to you today.

Dancing Dolphin

Thanks for stopping by, and be well!

Draw A Bird Day, September 2020

Does this mallard make you smile? His cuteness certainly “quacked” me up 😆🤣😁

Mallard Duck

I hope you’ve been healthy and coping with the challenges of 2020. Stay well, friends!

Second Week Recap of World Watercolor Month

Charlie, the founder of Doodlewash and World Watercolor Month, has given us thought-provoking prompts this year; these are my interpretations for the second week. The paintings are not meant to be masterpieces. The point is to simply enjoy the process of painting and not worry about the end product so much.

Even though 2020 has thrown us for a curve, thankfully World Watercolor Month is one event that wasn’t cancelled and has been a fun respite.

Fruit – Strawberry

We’ve had some sweet ones lately.

Fast – Baseball

Do you miss baseball? I don’t go to the games but miss them on TV or the radio. A baseball game is a sound of summer.

Round – Orange

Favorite Place – The Beach

This is from a photo I took on Hilton Head in February, before the world went wacky.

Twisted – Pretzel

Green – Cucumbers

Thanks for stopping by, and please be well!

World Watercolor Month is an annual global charitable event featuring the ultimate challenge of 31 Watercolors is 31 Days!  Artists around the globe come together to paint the world with beautiful watercolor and help raise awareness for arts education to get art supplies for kids who need them.  If you want to know more or help deserving children get art supplies, please check out the official WWCM website here.

Draw A Bird, July 2020, Plus the 1st Week’s Recap of World Watercolor Month

Hi friends. For this month’s Draw A Bird day, I painted an osprey portrait. When on vacation, we enjoy watching osprey fly over the ocean looking for big fish. Even better is when you see them flying away with their tasty meal (although a feel a little bad for the fish). We also like to see another type of osprey practicing maneuvers up and down the beach, as you will see in the last picture below.

Osprey

Charlie, the founder of Doodlewash and World Watercolor Month (WWCM), has given us thought-provoking prompts this year for WWCM, and here are my interpretations for the first week. These paintings are not meant to be masterpieces. The point is to simply enjoy the process of painting and not worry about the end product so much.

Rejoice – “The world rejoices in flowers”

Texture – Rust

Playful – Jumping in the Surf

Quiet – Tea and Reading

My Favorite Color – Blue

Flow – Shower

Free – Marines practice Osprey maneuvers over the beach we visit

World Watercolor Month is an annual global charitable event featuring the ultimate challenge of 31 Watercolors in 31 days.   Artists around the globe come together to paint the world with beautiful watercolor and help raise awareness for arts education to get art supplies for kids who need them.  If you want to know more or help deserving children obtain art supplies, please check out the official WWCM website here. See you next week with a recap of week 2. Stay safe out there!