Brande Arno Art

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.

"Bird Talk" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard $ 55.  Click to buy Inspired to paint this little fella by those that visit my bird feeders.  Chickadees are such nice birds.  From what I observe, they pick a seed from the feeder and then fly to a nearby branch to eat it...thus giving another bird a turn.  As pretty as goldfinches are, they're squatters.  Sometimes it takes an eviction notice to get them to share with other birds.

"Little Visitor" 5 x 5 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Buy on Paypal  $ 60. This little girl, is inspired by a recent post to my facebook page.  Some people do a great job sharing their time and resources with Hummingbirds.  One woman set up many feeders for Hummingbirds just outside her living room where she keeps one window open.   She enjoyed a little broad billed Hummingbird visitor who wanted to perch on her finger.  After a short while she flew to to feeder again to join the others but while the visit took place, someone filmed it and thus posted on facebook. I have to say, these kind of posts make my day...maybe my week.

The Mourning Dove, 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Board Wow- this piece was really a labor of love.  I tried many days to get this painting to completion and had nothing but problems.  This happens when you really don't know what you want to paint...or you have a unclear, fuzzy photo reference.   This give and take started when I looked out my living room window to check on my bird feeders and noticed a most charming neighborhood Mourning Dove perched on a tree limb.  Of course I snapped it's picture with my phone followed by going upstairs to get my real camera.  When I got back to the window, this adorable creature moved on. So I tried to make the best of a bad picture and it sure took a long time.  I'm pleased with the outcome and I've learned quite a bit from this painting.  Did I say it's the same lesson I learned pretty early in my artist journey:  You can only paint what you can see!  

"Everly" 4 x 4 inches Oil on Panel Buy Now With Etsy Another Hummingbird and yes, he's a male hummer.  I'm going back to my former brand of brushes which is Escoda.  They are more expensive, but worth every penny.

Homer, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel Sold, thank you! I decided that today I should paint a Hummingbird.  It was a tough and long labor, but Homer is the result.  Hummingbirds are such delicate creatures and tiny like a new baby.  Some Hummingbirds are iridescent and that is what I wanted to capture in this painting.  

Wilbur, 6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board with Palette Knife Click to Bid This painting was inspired by this week's Daily Paintwork's challenge titled "Pop the Peacock Challenge".  Offered was a photograph of a marvelous peacock but he was in with a background that included buildings, stones and trees.  The challenge was to simplify the background.  I'm pleased with the result, although Wilbur was more than a little upset about the pink background.  But he's a proud and secure peacock so he decided not to let his feathers get all riled up about it.  He has told me that I shouldn't pull this on a turkey.

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Buy on Etsy Gordon is a bold Hummingbird because he wanted to be flying on an orange background.  I thought, no I can't do that, but he insisted, so I took out my artist licence.  He looks just peachy.

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Click to Bid Drying on the easel now is this male Hummingbird loaded with color.  I'm thinking he's a Rufous but not sure.  I'll have to do some research.  Caesar, who is listed below, is a wanted hummer and this artist is happy.  Although I do not know the identities of the bidders currently duking it out on www.dailypaintworks.com I thank them for staying in the game.  The auction ends tonight and the auction for Orange Julius starts today.

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Buy on Etsy I think I'm on a hummingbird series.  They are such hard working little birdies.  I wanted to paint a male hummer today and Oliver is the result.

5 x 5 inches Oil on Board SOLD - Thank you! This little lady is waiting and resting up.  She worked hard to make her little nest.  One thing I did not know, is that Hummingbirds make silk to build and attach their nests.

4  x 4 inches, Oil on Board Sold I knew going into this painting, that I couldn't top Julie.  But Olivia is close and I'm very happy with this painting.  I'm finding that I love painting hummingbirds just as much as I love hummingbirds!

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board S old Julie is a sweet little Hummingbird.  I'm so happy with the outcome of this painting because there is the feeling of flight.

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board S old - Thank you! Here is a little sweet little hummingbird doing what they do best...being cute and adorable.

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board I can't think of a better way for an artist to start their week than to paint a value study.  Painting with a monochromatic palette accomplishes just that.