Winter Birches with Bird

Anddddddd.... done!

I haven't been able to get the lighting quite right in my new studio (it will come with time!) so I haven't been able to take really stellar photos yet. But perhaps you can see that now that it's done, that ...

after auditioning various kinds of beads (as above) plus some different hand stitches, the clear winner was... well, clear sequins, actually. Added just the right amount of sparkle, without too much weight.

Above, you'll see the underpainting of my little cardinal - I started with a wash of (believe it or not) bright magenta all over ...

followed by a cadium red wash, and then for his tummy he got some azo yellow, which I mixed with naphthol red, and some tiny strokes of cadium red and black in his tail. His beak was the same yellow, I used black for his mask, and the bird was done.

Here's a close up of the trunk of the birch tree which someone asked me for last week, and you can also see the sequins more clearly in this shot.

I matted it up to a standard 11 x 14 inch size, and it's done!

See you on Wednesday with the beginnings of the next little project. :)

16 comments:

Beth6.10.14
At first glance, the bird made me smile. You are amazing and the clear sequins are just perfect!! Another
"classic" Kit
KerikeriQuilting&Patchwork@blogger.com6.10.14
Lovely work, you are very talented.
Renzo Pella6.10.14
Beautiful.
Sharon6.10.14
Just beautiful!
KAM6.10.14
Kit - this is wonderful! and your execution of the color for the cardinal is perfection...they do not visit me here and your bird was a perfect visitor for my morning of bird listening and watching through the open window as I write.. Thanks for sharing your technique, purely a classic Kit piece as Beth wrote. Kristin
Margaret6.10.14
love the red bird, beautiful
Threadpainter6.10.14
perfect ! !
Monica7.10.14
I love the sunny little cardinal. All the paint layers definitely give him some life! And I can see the clear sequins are the perfect final touch. Wonderful!
Mary Ann Tate8.10.14
This is wonderful....I really really love it:)
Vicki W9.10.14
Beautiful!
liniecat10.10.14
I so love this : )
Margaret11.10.14
Yep; that bird is tiny -- and delightful! Love it, Kit!
Maggi13.10.14
Such a lovely piece. The bird providers a beautiful splash of colour in the monochrome landscape.