Sparrows

Sparrows are some of the most common birds in the United States.  The top one is a male House Sparrow in breeding plumage.  The bottom one is a juvenile House Sparrow taking a dust bath.  I did both of these in colored pencils.

Happy Mother's Day - Alaska

Happy Mother's Day!  This is a sketch dedicated to my Mother.  My wife and I went on a cruise to Alaska last September with my parents.  It was a great trip and I started out doing some sketches while the ship passed by the scenery.  Unfortunately or fortunately the scenery was too spectacular to keep up so I reverted to just taking photos and really quick notes on colors and ideas for later paintings.   It felt like I was drinking from the visual fire hose.  I definitely want to return to Alaska but at a slower pace so it can be enjoyed and savored.

Tufted Titmouse

SO I don't know who names these birds or why but, the Tufted Titmouse has one of the oddest names.  They look like a cross between a cardinal and a Blue Jay but they are smaller.  They are a favorite here in Maryland at the feeders. I used colored pencils on this sketch.

Purple Martin

The Purple Martin is nature's mosquito control bird.  They are cousins to the swallows, another bug eater.  Keep your eyes out for the people who build the large white bird houses on poles, or they make the gourd birdhouses and place them in their yards as nature's bug controllers.   It is hard to capture the purple sheen of their feathers, but that is what I have tried to depict with colored pencils.

This is an Alaskan Sled Dog waiting his turn at the practice sled.  The dogs were excited beyond belief and unhappy when they did not get a turn as fast as they wanted.  I have an Yupik Indian friend who keeps this dog team ready and trained for his winter travel because he got sick of his "Snow Machine" breaking in a blizzard.  The drawing is done in colored pencil.

Point Retreat Lighthouse, Auke Bay, Alaska

This is another view of the Point Retreat Lighthouse at Auke Bay, Alaska near Juneau.  Last September, I traveled with the family up to Alaska.  We traveled along the Inner Passage and checked out Glaciers, Bears, whales, Seals, and lighthouses.

Point Retreat Lighthouse, Alaska

This is a pencil sketch of the Point Retreat Lighthouse in Alaska.  We saw this last September while on a Whale Watching tour out of Auke Bay.  During the tour, we saw this lighthouse and other one in addition to Bald Eagles, Sea Lions, Seals and Humpback Whales so it was an excellent wildlife and site seeing trip.  Get there if you can.