Day after Day

"Day after Day, Never fail to draw something which, however little it may be, will yet in the end be much, and do thy Best."

Cennino Cennini c. 1390

Above is a threesome from skulls from Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life.  After the day job I do not always have the mental ability to draw or paint something original so I practice from a couple of classical drawing and Art guides.  I think of it as similar to practicing cords in music, after I am done I fell calmer and some what refreshed, i.e. Creativity for Sanity.

American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch is always a spring time marker.  The males have the bright plumage.  They are around all year round but they are really noticeable in spring.  Put out thistle seeds and you will see them too.  We have seen them in Colorado, Utah, and Maryland.

Western Tanager

So continuing on the Bird topic, the Western Tanager is as bright as the American Goldfinches and as brilliant as the Cardinal.  I have only seen them in the canyons above Salt Lake City, Utah.  They are in other places and I always look when I am out west, but for some reason only in the canyons have they come out to serenade me.

Yellow Warbler

This little cutie was spotted on the banks of the Provo river in Utah.  It was flitting around eating bugs above the water surface.  Stealing them from the Cutthroat Trout in the river.  This is the one and only time I have ever seen this bird.  He was a spring time guest.

Cardinals

These are colored pencil sketches of a male and female Cardinal.  They are the state bird of six states - Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina.  These are the favorite birds of my wife and my grandmother.  We never saw them until we moved to North Carolina.

Turkey - Georgia Turkey

I never saw Turkeys until I went to Georgia in 1988 to Fort Benning, Georgia.  I came a round a corner of some bushes and a large pine tree, and there was 15 Turkeys.  I was calm and walked slowly about ten feet behind them.  We walked together.  They were aware of me but not too concerned since I was moving slowly.   We walked together for about 20 yards and then they veered right and I continued straight on.  It was the closest I had ever been before or since.  It surprised me then and now, since Turkeys are smart and skittish.  So I will always cherish my walk with Turkeys.

Brown Thrasher

The state bird of Georgia, plus Yesterday's bird the Northern Bobwhite is the other.  I guess their state legislature wanted to share the wealth on state birds.    It is the only state I know of with two birds.   I actually saw this bird in Virginia.  I saw more Turkeys in Georgia than any where else.  So the Turkey will be tomorrow's bird.