Thursday, October 02, 2008

New Artwork and New Chickens

Well, I have let several months go by without posting! It's been pretty busy, but I have managed to get a few small paintings finished that I'm pretty happy with.

First, here's a picture of our sweet, silly chickens chillin' on the swing about a month ago:



About a week after I took that picture something got into their pen and killed every single one of those chickens. They were due to start laying eggs sometime this month and were most certainly pets for us. We were really crushed to find them all dead that Sunday morning! Gosh, it was sad.

A few days later, our neighbor gave us some new chickens for David's birthday! They are now about six weeks old. They are Barred Rock chickens, which are one of the few varieties of chickens that you can tell what gender they are by their color when they are tiny. We have ten hens (pullets) and one rooster (cockerel).



A couple of months ago, the friend who gave us our first chickens gave me a photo of one of their roosters- the father of several of ours. I really enjoyed doing this little painting from that photo- what a beautiful rooster!



Several weeks ago, David and I went to the northern part of the state and spent some time there with my parents. Jon was sick and had to stay here! One day while we were there, we went down to the river and let David swim. The rest of us sat in chairs by the water and chatted, and I painted this little painting of a boathouse across the river. I loved doing this painting and am really happy with it!



A couple of weeks ago, I did this little painting based on a photo I took several months ago of some flowers in a flower show. I can't remember what they were, and I've changed them quite a bit. I love the colors in this!



I hope the next few weeks will be a bit more relaxed; I hope to do some more painting. I have to say, though, that I have painted quite a bit more this year than I realized! It has been a blessing.

Have a wonderful October!

12 comments:

Margaret Ann said...

What a bittersweet post...The first chicken photo just tickled me to pieces...and then as I read further I lost my breath! How sad!
Keep posting your joyful paintings...always a treat to see! :)

Leslie said...

Thank you so much, Margaret! That bittersweetness is one reason I put off posting for a few weeks...

Thank you again!
Leslie

Kari Gibson said...

So sorry to hear about your lovely chickens, they looked so content on the swing too.

I do love your new ones, they are so cute and the painting of the rooster is excellent!

Ann said...

Beautiful paintings! That first chicken photo is too funny, but how sad to hear that you lost them all. Your new chickens look like they are just waiting to be models for some new art!

kazumiwannabe said...

Oh, that's very sad, for the chickens. Your paintings are wonderful, though! The rooster is fabulous, and the boathouse beautiful too!

Linda T said...

Wow, that reflection of the boat house in the water is really awesome!

Leslie said...

Thank you all so much for the comments! I really appreciate them. :)

Monette Satterfield said...

So sorry about your chickens but that was a lovely gesture from obviously good neighbors.
Your flower paintings are special. Having browsed through past posts, I especially liked the dogwood and pansies from June.

Lynn said...

Too bad about the chickens, but you have that wonderful photograph of them to remember.
Your sketches are lovely. I really like the fabulous blue flowers.

Lisa Adams Reed said...

LOVE your rooster, flowers and boat house. And your precious chillin chickens!
Lisa

Christie said...

I miss having chickens - and I remember very well how awful it was when something "got 'em." Thanks for the memories and allowing me to look at your lovely sketches.

Aarti Harish said...

Very beautiful paintings....I really liked the one wch you have mentioned as a painting made from a photograph taken at an exhibiton..its so nice...!!