Brande Arno Art

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Gessoboard - $75.  Buy on Etsy Today, I planned to paint a shack.  I had an excellent start to the painting and was so happy.  Lasted about one hour.  I dug myself and the shack in a big hole. We couldn't crawl out so I had to scrape it all off. I wasn't going to give up on getting a painting, so I looked through my camera and found this little girl.  She was being a good girl at our local farmers market.   She was very friendly and pretty much posed for me.  I wish that I'd taken a minute back then to ask for and then write her name down on a piece of paper so I could lose that too. She had an ID bracelet on and I made it a little prettier than it really was.  Now, I didn't have to do that with her...she was pretty inside and out. 

5 x 7 inches, Oil on Gessoboard -Sold As this painting progressed, I started to feel inspired to use the brush differently.  So I did and I really like how this Tufted Titmouse's Tuft was rendered.  Say that fast!   When I finished painting the Tufted Titmouse's Tuft, it looked like the wind was blowing from behind, thus the title. 

Indigo Bunting, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Click to Bid I'm fortunate to have a mated pair of Indigo Buntings visiting my bird feeder.  I say that because I've had the bird feeder for over 10 years and my first sighting was last week.  The male of this species sports stunning ocean blue feathers...some teal in there also. I paint with a very limited palette, so I was challenged to come up with the right mixtures.  But it wasn't very long before I realized that mixing the right "Indigo" color wouldn't be enough.  So I subdued everything else, to include his cute little beak.

5 x 7 inches, Oil on Panel $ 85. Click to Buy Although, I haven't posted new paintings at the frequency I usually do, I've been busy in the studio.  I completed a larger commissioned painting and doing lots of homework with an on-line course.  And to guarantee complete stress...I'm also trying to build a website. 

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Panel- $ 55.-  To etsy The word is out that bird seed abounds where I live.  I saw this young male with a female at the feeder.  When I first consulted my NY birder manual, I thought it must be a house finch.  I didn't think I'd be so blessed to have a purple finch at the feeder.  But I took a closer look knowing the House Finch and Purple Finch look very similar but the later is very rare.  So I really studied my birdies and I can confidently exclaim I had a visit from a male Purple Finch, got pictures to prove it and now, this painting.

5 x 5 inches, $ 55. Oil on Panel - etsy link Today, I struggled with a strong desire to go clothes shopping instead of studio time.  You see, I was overcome with fear today, fear that I'd paint a dud.  If it was a bright sunny day, I probably would have went shopping, but it was instead a day with overcast skies and threat of rain. Glad I faced my fear today and completed this bird.  The photo source is unusual where poses are concerned, but I wanted the challenge and I'm pleased with the result.  Now on to cleaning the studio.   

4 x 4 inches, oil on gessoboard Sold - Thank you I'm two days late in listing this painting.  Family visit and in my heart, family always comes first.  This is my entry into the February, 2015 NibbleFest Art Contest (NFAC)  The theme is Black & White and what better subject?  The Blackbird.  These birds are smaller than the Crow and Raven. I enjoyed painting this piece.  I'm having fun experimenting with brushwork.

5 x 7 inches, Oil on Gessoboard - $60.  Etsy Shop It seems that some birds would rather glean birdseed from the ground than perch on the feeder.  And as in the example of this cardinal, get snow on their beaks by doing so.  Maybe I should mind my own business.

Blue Jay No. 6- oil on gessoboard, 6 x 6 inches Sold - Thank you Process Pictures I offer a variety of bird seed and by doing so, attract Blue Jays and Woodpeckers.  I try to keep my camera or phone handy so I can snap pictures.  I've also just started sketching them.  They go to bed early, so I try to get at the window by 3:30 pm.  I'll post some sketches when they are post worthy.

"Tufted Titmouse" 6 x 6 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Buy on Paypal Painted from a photo.  I replaced the birdfeeder perch with a tree branch.  Artist licence kind of thing.   process pictures Yesterday, It snowed quite hard.  I worry about animals and birds when old man winter blows his nose.  So yesterday found me staring out the window at the birdfeeders.  That in of itself is not unsusal, but what was?   The length of time I was at the window, wringing my hands in worry for my birds. The voice in your head that bosses you around started up:  "If your going to be spending all this time, looking out the window at the birds, then pull out the sketchbook and draw them."  Well, I rounded up my very magic pencil and my sketchbook and got started.  I forgot the kneaded eraser.  Ok, I'm not going to get up and get it.  Started to draw and found that I needed my binoculars.  Well, they were reachable on the end table. ...

"Buffalo Cardinal" 5 x 5 inches, Oil on Gessoboard $ 55.   Buy on Etsy This painting is the second of my 2014 Christmas Cardinal series.  Western NY (Buffalo area) got slammed and I mean slammed with a major snow storm.  My heart is broken as about 13 people are reported to have died from this storm.  Sadly, more could be discovered as five feet of snow in less than one day shuts down roads and leaves those drivers stranded. Yesterday, where I live (Rochester area of NY) a few inches of snow fell.  For about an hour though, it was coming down thickly and I thought about complaining.  Because of my addiction to watching the birds at my feeder, I've seen them endure harsh winter weather with determination and grace. They are an inspiration to me, so instead of voicing my complaint, I gratefully started supper.  

"Ready, Set, Go" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Buy on Etsy I don't know why, but a plethora of Robins, Titmouses, Finches and yes, Chickadees were at the bird feeder all at once.  Reminded me of a flashmob, birdie style. I'm not sure, but it looked like some of these delicate creatures were working the feeders, throwing the millet to the ground in favor of the black sunflowers seed.  Note:  I'll be moving to pure black sunflower seed next week.   Just goes to show, you don't have to be an egg-head to be smart.

"Spying Chickadee", 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard $ 50.  Click to Buy Today was another stellar fall day and my hand injury of yesterday does not hurt...It's a beautiful life!  Celebrated both with this chickadee painting.  

October's Grey Titmouse, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Click to Buy The bird feeding station at my house is in full swing.  I'm enjoying lots of activity from a variety of birds and snapping pictures for future paintings.  As I was refilling the feeders today, a little chickadee swooped and almost landed on me.  Maybe next time.  

"Wide Eye and Stance" 5 x 5 inches- Oil Painting of a Grey Titmouse -Sold What attracted me to paint this bird was the wide stance of those cute little claw feet.  Had to do some editing of the tree branches, although I really wanted to include every single one.  But it's all about the bird, not the branches.