Chinese Brush Painting Practice

I am learning to think more like the Chinse Artists in their practice of painting.
In traditional watercolor, the object is to try to paint a close representation of the subject.
The Chinese attempt feel what their subject is feeling and paint with that emotion, more spontanious and free.
This was my result of "letting go" and being spontanious.
Joni, trust me, my chickadees will get rounder and fluffier. The shape of this one is more like a robbin!

The Deer Pair

This is the newest painting that I have been working on.  It is a pair from a wildlife refuge in Alaska. I am pretty sure they are Mule Deer.

Slow but Steady Progress

As you can see, the progess can be slow.
At this stage, pretty much every brushstroke counts.
I am working on the shadows and muscle details.

The Forrest and the Trees

Making progress on painting the trees. I don't know why the tree to the far right in the second photo appears to be leaning.

The deer family are beginning to have more landscape to enjoy.

I hope you are enjoying the journey of this creation. I am enjoying sharing the journey with you.

Focusing on Mama Deer

As in most families, the father figure is strong, the children are just beautiful and mom, well she is so busy pouring herself into the family and unfortunately so often taken for granted.

And so it is with the deer family, the buck and fawns came together but the doe, I hadn't given a lot of thought to her. I am working layer by layer to make her beautiful, graceful, nurturing and peaceful.

The background is also challenging. I am learning how to make realistic trees which takes time and attention to detail.

Into the Streets of Ethiopia

I usually do not post about every charity but this one is special and worthy. It is ran by an amazing family that adopted their beautiful daughter from Ethiopia. That is how I got to "know" them, praying their daughter home last year. Their hearts were changed when they traveled to Ethiopia and they started a ministry to the orphans there. They partner with established orphanges and charities. They have forund a way to get desperately needed formula for starving babies for $12.00 a can. I would ask that everyone would pray for them, give what you can and spread the word.Their blog is: http://intothestreetsofethiopia.blogspot.com/

You can also click their button to the right on my blog.

The progression of the Deer Family

As you can see, the family is coming along. The buck is more "buff" and close to being done. I havn't had a lot of time this last week to work on them. Thanks for checking up on the progress. It gives me power to keep going.