Miniature Paintings in Progress

“Bunny Squirrel” and my heron painting in the first stage of the painting process

It’s been another highly productive week here in our studio in the Smokies, with us getting in a lot of painting time at the easels.  I thought it would be fun to share a few of the steps along the way while painting our two recently finished squirrel miniature paintings. We demonstrated on them at the Big Night For Small Works event during the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, SC this past month. Once the initial washes are laid down, then it’s time to start building up and establishing the values.

Since we work in watercolor, we carefully lay down brushstroke upon brushstroke of thin color to create the texture of the fur. It’s best to try and establish as early on as possible the darkest areas in the painting, which makes it easier to judge the middle values. Then it just takes a lot of time and patience to continue building the soft, thick-looking fur, so that it packs a punch when viewed under the magnifying glass!

While we enjoy painting, it’s always especially fun to paint something you’re really excited about, and that was certainly the case with my precious “Bunny Squirrel” who is one of my best little critter friends! Bunny has her nest located in a tree not too far from our back deck, and she spends much of her time hanging out on our back porch.  I give her treats often, and when she thinks she needs more, she sits atop the handrail and strikes adorable poses, changing them, until I go out and give her a little edible something to enjoy.  Needless to say, it was a delight painting her!

My painting “Bunny Squirrel”

Wes painted a miniature of a beautiful Fox Squirrel, and it’s always interesting to us to see the different ways in which we both begin, as well as paint our miniatures.  Wes started his with a very bright wash on the entire background, then built up the fur texture and the basic shapes of the stump.

The remaining texture and darkest darks and brightest highlights were added to the stump and the squirrel.  The gold is the last thing to be painted.

We had so much fun watching and photographing all of the resident Southern Fox Squirrels, while at beautiful Brookgreen Gardens last month, where we attended the opening for our Exquisite Miniatures.

“Southern Fox Squirrel” by Wes

~  See Our Miniatures In-Person This Week At ~

Brookgreen Gardens ~ Murrells Inlet, SC

Society of Animal Artists’ 59th Annual Art & The Animal National Tour
~ The Evelyn Burrow Museum, Hanceville, AL

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Would you love to enjoy your special friend as a miniature painting?                             Then commission us to do just that! Email photos for consideration to us at siegrist@artofwildlife.com

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Until Next Time . . . 

~ Rachelle

Paddling In The Moonlight

 

I see the moon . . . and the moon sees me

 

Wes and I took a short break from the studio and office this past week, to go camping for a couple of days.  It was nearly perfect weather, so we filled our time with kayaking, swimming, fishing, and hiking. We started off each day with an early morning paddle while fishing and just plain relaxing.  At one point I found this Mayfly floating upside down atop the water, so I gently picked it up and placed it upright on my kayak, where it rode for some time before I placed it onto a maple leaf at the water’s edge.  It was quite striking in appearance and I enjoyed getting to take a close look at it!

 

A gorgeous Mayfly resting on my kayak

 

While only Wes caught fish, I had fun trying with my flyrod and got a kick out of watching the schools of minnows in the clear water below, tearing at my wee fly each time it came close to my kayak!

 

Wes having fun while fishing

 

The Joe Pye Weeds were covered with numerous puffy pink blossoms, which the insects and a variety of butterflies were greatly enjoying!

 

A hornet feasts atop a Joe Pye Weed

 

We also enjoyed a relaxing hike each day and delighted in seeing an assortment of mushrooms and fungi as we walked along.  While many were bright orange or yellow, growing in all shapes and sizes, there was one in particular that really stood out.  As we walked, we began smelling something that smelled dead and like it was decaying and rotting.  After searching for a carcass lying around, and finding nothing, we soon realized that this yucky, earthy stench was coming from a certain medium to large size mushroom.  From then on, each time that familiar stench filled the air, we knew right away what it was!

 

Clavulinopsis fusiformis, commonly known as golden spindle Coral

 

While afternoons were filled with swimming, we took the kayaks out during the evenings.  One evening we decided to stay out and watch the sunset while fishing and relaxing, and were rewarded with a most spectacular sunset that only God could paint!

 

The start of the beautiful Pink clouds

 

As the setting sun dipped lower and lower, it bathed the sky above in a stunning array of pinks, which turned to salmon, oranges, and yellows, and was truly breathtaking to watch and see!

 

And the world turned pink!

 

The bright colors quickly faded, turning the world into a black and white movie, as the nearly full moon grew higher in the darkening sky.  I have always wanted to paddle in the full moonlight, and must admit it was as magical as I dreamed it would be!  Many times I stopped paddling and sat back in the kayak while watching the brightly reflected moonlight dance across the rippled surface of the water, and it proved to be quite mesmerizing indeed!

Back at home, it’s been very hot and dry this past week, so we’ve traded our daily walk for an hour of swimming and snorkeling at the river nearby.  The water is unbelievably clear right now, making us feel as if we’re snorkeling in a huge aquarium, and I think the fish are starting to recognize my bright pink mask, and don’t seem to mind me invading their watery world at all anymore.  We have such fun starting at the base of a cascade which thrusts us forward at a good rate of speed, thus making us feel as if we’re flying through the air as we go downstream!

We were delighted to be invited to dear friend David’s home to enjoy a fish fry with him and some of his family.  We’ve always so enjoyed spending time with David’s sweet parents and other family members, so it was truly a wonderful evening filled with delicious food, lots of great stories and many laughs, and we’re looking forward to getting to spend time with them again in the near future!

 

David frying fish while Wes watches

 

~ In The Studio ~

In the studio this week, we have both been having fun at the easels.  I just finished my painting of an adorable squirrel sitting atop its nest, which I noticed while visiting Homosassa Springs in Florida last fall.  I watched as she made several trips whilst carrying small branches and mouthfuls of leaves into her nest.  She had stopped for a wee break when we caught her in this cute pose.

 

My “Home Sweet Home”

 

Wes finished his miniature painting of an immature White Ibis, which we also saw during the same trip to Florida, as it searched for tasty treats below the water, with its long, curved bill.

 

Wes’ “Working The Weeds”

 

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~ Rachelle

Here Fishy, Fishy

We headed out early one morning this past week for a bit of fun in the kayaks, with friends Kit and Mike joining us.  Wes and I spent some time fishing, and while Wes caught and released about ten, I only had a couple of good bites.  Nonetheless, it’s always fun to “wet a line” even if you don’t reel anything in!  I must say Wes’ prettiest catch of the day was a beautiful brightly colored Sunfish.  As I paddled along, I was delighted to see lots of fish swimming below including several Smallmouth Bass, a huge snapping turtle and numerous Bryozoa colonies growing, ranging in size from tiny to enormous!

 

A grouping of amazing Bryozoa colonies

 

The Bryozoa reminds me somewhat of jellyfish, as they’re balloon-like and squishy to the touch, but thankfully they’re harmless and give no sting to anyone brave enough to gently feel them.  They only thrive in clean healthy water, so it’s always great to see them!

 

Kit and I spot a river monster lurking in the water below!

 

After enjoying a peanut butter and jelly sandwich whilst sitting atop a big rock, it was time to get into the water.  So I suited up and did just that, swimming up to an area with several cascades and a small waterfall.  There I found the perfect spot to sit and enjoy a nice back massage, that was as long as I could stay there while pushing with all my might against the strong current!

With soaring temps and no rainfall, the water has been really clear, making it nice for snorkeling as well.  I love snorkeling, especially with my wetsuit that keeps me from freezing, and never tire of exploring the underwater world!  It’s the strangest feeling to walk down the riverbank along dry ground leading through trees and bushes, before stepping into the water, then as soon as you put your mask and snorkel on and place your head into the water, it’s like you’ve been transported into a different universe.

Instantly you’re in another world, watching a variety of beautiful fish swimming all around you while feeling a sense of weightlessness as you swim along, floating above this submerged grand canyon-type landscape.  Time seems to stand still when I’m in the fishes’ world, and when I stand up and step onto dry ground again, it’s like stepping out of one universe back into another.  If you’ve ever seen the TV series Stargate, it’s very much like the cast in the show did, as they simply walked through the liquidy looking portal and found themselves in another galaxy or universe.  In the real world, it feels that easy as well, you just have to step from the shore into the water, and there you are . . . instantly in another world!

 

~ In The Studio ~

In the studio this week, we have both been having fun at the easels.  I am currently painting on an adorable squirrel sitting atop its nest, which I watched while visiting Homosassa Springs in Florida last fall.  I watched as it made several trips whilst carrying small branches and mouthfuls of leaves into its nest.  It had stopped for a wee break when we caught her in this cute pose.

Wes is currently painting an immature White Ibis, which we also saw during the same trip to Florida, as it searched for tasty treats below the water, with its long, curved bill.

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Until Next Time . . . 

~ Rachelle