Shake your tail feathers!
It’s #DrawABirdDay again with my WordPress friends.
This little wren is shaking it’s tail feathers in honor of Spring approaching, as am I!
This is a very simple 5-minute “study” of sorts in brush strokes using my BRANDY NEW Rekab 320S #2 squirrel hair brush! Oh what a glorious, lovely brush it is! This brush came on the recommendation of Debi Riley as her “go-to” brush, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Unfortunately, the only place I could find it was in an art store halfway across the world in Australia (where Debi happens to live), called Art Scene.
So order it I did, and then I waited, and waited, and waited. Patience is not one of my virtues. It really only took about ten (loooooooooong) days. I practically hugged Cliff, our mailman, when he brought it last week. Between my excitement and Charlie’s leaping out to see him, Cliff got the greeting of the prodigal son. He laughed about my paint brush coming from the other side of the world and my excitement over it, and he spent a minute or two giving Charlie some pets and scratches and a morsel or two of his lunch pretzels (yep – Charlie has weasled his way into Cliff’s heart too!).
I can’t wait to have more time to play with this lovely, wonderful brush, but I am traveling this week for work, so it must wait. What I was trying to do, however, with this, was to be very deliberate with my brush strokes and create an impressionistic version of a wren. I love the freedom with this brush to create swooshes and thick washes as well as the tiniest of lines like the feet and beak and even a small dot of an eye. One brush for every stroke, line, dot, and splash! Swoon!
Wishing you the simple joys today – like the chirping of a bird…
Springtime weather…
or small gifts like a paintbrush brought by the mailman from the other side of the world…
or nibbles of pretzels and ear scratches from a thoughtful mailman to a loving dog.
Cherish the moments!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It has a wonderful simplicity, and is very wren-like. I can feel spring in the air! (K)
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Thanks kerfe!
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Adorable wren! I can hardly wait to see the paintings you create with your new brush! I’ll be anxiously waiting!! 🙂
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So much personality and love the splatter! Looking forward to seeing more more more! There is nothing like the joy of a wren. 💜
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👍🏻💜
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It’s adorable!
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so very cute!
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Birds are definitely your forté, Jodi, they all have so much personality! I LOVE this one created with your new brush! You have inspired me to dust off my watercolors, and I have been doing some sketches. It is hard for me because I have been painting mostly with acrylic on canvas and glass for years, surfaces that are very forgiving and mistakes can be easily corrected! Watercolor is a whole different media, I find I have to think backwards 🙂
Jenna
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Woohoo. I can’t wait to see your watercolor work ! I’ve been traveling for work so a bit behind. Thanks for your inspiring inspired message. 💜
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I’ll have to try that brush, too. 🙂 What a darling wren! House or Carolina? I love them! Yours is so perky and perfect! ❤
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Thanks!! Carolina. 👍
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Love the immediacy! N.
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Awh. Thanks Nina!
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Shake it! Shake it!! You really shook up some magic with that new brush! I love this birdie! Particularly the depth and texture is such a quick sketch. Brilliant Jodi! 😍
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You little charmer ☺️thanks Charlie o
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It amazing what a new brush can do! Fabulous bird in the beautiful Jodiesque style!!
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Thanks Sharon. Can’t wait to play with it some more. 🎨
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That’s a fantastic impressionistic wren! The splatters are a great touch. Have fun with the new brush!
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Thanks so much!!
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What a sweet little wren, singing its heart out for Spring to come!
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Thanks kr!!
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You do live in “Mars”! My mail man is here and gone so fast, all I see is a blue blur across the yard.
Hope you are some where to take amazing pictures & enjoy new food. 🙂
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Cliff is the best. 👍💙
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That’s really beautiful, Jodi. I might have to add that to my shopping list 😉
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😝🎨
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I can see that wren’s tail twitching! Yay! Spring time. Looking forward to seeing what you create with that very special brush! 🙂
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Thanks susan!
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This painting is a favorite – I like the colors and the shaking of the tail feathers. Thanks Jodi, have a great day! 🙂
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Awh thanks terry!☺️
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Wow…this is amazing Jodi! So life-like! Spring is definitely here with your wren’s shaking tail feathers! Safe travels this week. 💛Elizabeth
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Thanks E!!
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LoVe your happy wren, Jodi!! ❤️ So great to see you shaking YOUR tail feathers in watercolor! 💕👍🎨🌟🌈
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How wonderful Jodi! A brush from across the globe! And it helps you paint such a pretty picture! The bird looks fluffy and like he just did shake his feathers! 😀💕😀
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Woohoo!! 😝
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Beautiful Jodi !!
Beautiful, clean and effective handling of this Rekab 320s brush!! You’ve got the knack of it in a flash! excellent 🙂
no mud, no fiddling. just clean bright washes of color….. very Lovely.
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Awh. Thanks Debi!!!
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Now you know I have no artistic experience, so I’m going to ask a stupid question. Is the brush really made of squirrel hair? Either way, I’m glad you found a brush that makes painting an even better experience! You make it look so easy, but I know it’s not!
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It is ann. I didn’t know this either until very recently 😉🎨
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Good to know! Now I don’t feel quite so silly for asking! Thanks, Jodi!
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Great brush story 🙂 ! Your little wren is so cute. Awesome brushstrokes – those decisive curves definitely say “wren!”. The colours are wonderful too.
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You are so kind! Thank you!
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