Oriole

A few months ago I desperately wanted to get into my studio. I had been in my funk for awhile, but on this particular day I just HAD to create something. Anything. Just give me a brush or pencil and I’d be good.

But one of my kids woke up sick and just needed mom. Creating went to the back burner as I snuggled and watched movies with my boy while he still is young enough to want his mom.

After a couple movies, he asked me what I had planned on doing if he hadn’t been home. I mentioned painting or drawing, and he looked up at me with those big gray eyes of his and said:

“Mom, I’m okay. Go paint. You need a break.”

Oh my goodness, the sweetness.

So I went and painted in between frequent trips upstairs to check on him and make sure he was okay, but I got a new bird painting done!

I don’t know why I hadn’t ever thought of painting an oriole until someone mentioned it at a festival last year. It was like a big ‘duh!’ moment went off in my head, and I knew one would be ready for this upcoming festival season.

I have to say, I was nervous about painting him. Sometimes bright colors can come across too bright, but I couldn’t have him be muted. Finding a great balance was a little tricky; it took several layers of different colors building upon each other to make the perfect orange.

I can’t wait to get back into the studio and work on some other birds that I think would be a great addition to the watercolor birds collection. Let me know if you have a bird in mind to paint!

This piece is available in my Etsy store here and will be available as a print soon.