Befriended by a Scissortail'

This next painting was completely inspired by a lovely encounter recently with a Scissortailed Flycatcher.

I was out cycling solo in a rural area when suddenly this beautiful bird appears right next to me, playing and dancing around my handlebars.

I was completely entranced by it's amazing long 'scissor' tail and as it would swoop up above me it would showoff the beautiful apricot/ orange flash under its wings.

My feathered friend flew along next to me for about a mile, much to my complete delight and then watched me turn the corner from a safe perch.

Couldn't wipe the grin off my face for days..

'Scissortailed Flycatcher'

Watercolor

9" x 12"

                   Original available here

Moments like those are why I just cannot stop painting birds..

sigh... I just love those little feathered pieces of heaven :)

love H xx

Woodland Owl

I have a thing for little owls, so mysterious, so beautiful.. the perfect well wisher for a birthday methinks..

A little woodland owl surrounded in a wreath of flowers, ferns and butterflies.. to wish your special one Happy Birthday .

My original design was painted in watercolors, it has been reproduced on gorgeous quality card with matching envelope available in The Sacred Gift store

Happy Tuesday to you all..

Cheers , Helen

Commission Delivered..Azure and Saffron

I can finally show you this piece ( it was a surprise commission by a lady for her husband's birthday)  he  was delighted, (these birds have long been a collectible favorite for him)

I showed a peek in this post ..

It's a  wee Kingfisher ... :)

 ( I love that out of all the birds , these ones have touched this man so much , he has many books and works of art dedicated to the subject)

I learned so much about them while researching.. they have a protective layer which shoots across their eye when diving underwater  for fish..   I also didn't realize that their feet are a bright orange/red and they are so tiny compared to the rest of their body  :)

I think they are so precious..  

thanks for visiting...

Sending you all a magical week ahead  xxxxx Helen

Satin Bower bird watercolor for Illustration Friday - Disguise

Alberto is feeling quite confident that the ladies will swoon over his beautifully decorated bower. All thanks to his ingenious disguise, Alberto had the courage this year to steal the 'most delightful blue treasures' he had ever seen.
.. Alberto is a lover not a fighter.. .


The Satin Bower Bird hails from Australia.. the male is well known for stealing all manner of blue objects with which to decorate his bower nest'.. the 'blue bower' is to attract the female, who apparently is delighted by pretty blue things that match the eyes and shining plumage of the male. Blue pegs ( New Zealand speak for 'clothespin' ) and drinking straws are obviously very alluring.. they are often found outside decorating the bower.


Ready for love'
Watercolor on paper
9 x 12
Helen Wheeler Shaw

Luv H xx

IF - ' Influence' - Storm Petrel watercolor bird painting..

Illustration Friday's topic this week is 'Influence'..

I decided I would like to influence the weather patterns'.. whisper softly in Mother Nature's ear..
here in Texas it has been 103 degrees every day for months with no rain.. I sure love the sun.. but the plants, trees and little creatures need some moisture.

I have brought a Storm Petrel to Texas.. to share his rain love.. the Storm Petrel bird is a very strong omen to fisherman.. when he is hovering around.. rain and storms will follow..

'Rain Maker'

Watercolor 

9 x 12 inches

Helen Wheeler Shaw

I'll let you know how it goes'.. xx H


yay we finally did get some rain!!!!!!!

A little bird with a touch of Verdigris...

 Verdigris  :  the beautiful aged green patina that forms on copper after it has been exposed to the elements for a length of time..Its name comes from the Middle English vertegrez, from the Old French verte grez, an alteration of vert-de-Grice — verd (green), de (of), and Grice (Greece)— "green of Greece".

I decided to 'age' a gold frame that had an appealing design and shape. I painted it with a copper metallic paint and then used this 'verdigris' ageing solution.
Pleased with the results I painted this little chap in watercolor over the top of some old ephemera. To enhance the frame color I painted his feathers a similar green/blue verdigris shade. At a later date I will add a hand stamped copper plate inside the frame and then fill it with resin. This will give the work a clear glass protective coating which will make the frame an essential , connected part of the artwork .

I will post this again when it is finished.. Cheers , H xx

Illustration Friday - Number 2 in the series..

 I have finally finished my piece to submit for this weeks "Illustration Friday ' group.. the theme was... 'Stay'

Hoping he will...
 'Stay a while'
Watercolor on paper
9 x 12
Helen Wheeler-Shaw


Thanks for visiting  xxxx Helen

ps ( a 2nd shout out to my great hand model Luke ..my 12 year old son :)

Early morning start... . what's on my table..

Up with the birds this morning.. sketching out my next mixed media piece.. here is a peek..

 About to start the watercolor...( yay !) have a fun , creative Thursday,  xx H.

Eating from my hand... new painting..

Hi people.. well I managed to squeeze in a good painting session EVEN with the kids home for the summer !
Hope all you mama artists out there are scheduling in some art 'sanity' time ..hehe..

I'm still yet to name this one ..

 9 x 12  -Watercolor

I had fun with this.. I had never drawn a hand before so I used my son Luke as a 'hand model'.  He is very excited he thinks his hand is famous now :)

Let me know your thoughts on a good title for this painting..

I have lots of ideas bubbling over for ideas with this concept.. stay tuned..
Lots of love .. Helen xx

The bees are buzzing...

Yup they are here.. it was kinda wild to be driving around with 60,000 bees in the car!
That's a total of 5 hives 'worth'.. there was 12,000 in each 'package' of bees. 2 for us..  and some for 2 different lots of friends.

 Soo much excitement. ....here are some shots of our sexy  outfits...ooh yes.. the latest in pin-up for beekepers'..hehe

 Fellow 'Newbie beekeeper' Leslie made gorgeous honey sangria' to sweeten our nerves while hiving our new friends. YUM!!  beekeper nectar..essential!

Here is a shot of Leslie 'testing' if the 'calming effects 'were working..

Now we just have to feed our little buzzy friends lots of sugar water..  and pollen patties until they get established..

Here is a pic of one of their new homes....

Yup.. that is a viewing door.. so fab to be able to open it up and peek in through their perspex window.. and jus' see what's up in bee land.. ( created by Master wood artist' Jess)  :)


Viva Bees'..

 Love from ....Beekeeper Helen XXXx

An apple a day.......

Provides a fun perching spot for this little fella'

'Apple'

Watercolor

Here's to a wonderful creative week everyone.. wow ..I can't believe it's already November!

It seems these days that even the weeks have wings..

Luv.. H xx

'Lime'

You didn't think I'd leave out 'lemon's' little green cousin did you?

A drop of tequila , a lick of salt and this little bird is ready for margarita time '

I know what you're thinking.. this one is very ...

....um...

...green.

Yup.. but I like green.. so 'very green' it is..

the truth be told I tried some 'Fancy Fabriano hot press' watercolor paper instead of my usual cold press... hmm kinda didn't like it..

I felt I had less control with layering.. so I guess I'm a cold press kinda girl.. ( that's how I like my olive oil too). Olives are green too .. so yes that last statement is TOTALLY relevant to this post !

Hehe.. I am just rambling..

Toodle..oo ! Luv H x

Oranges and lemons...

I had to follow the last lemony post with an orange chap sitting .. well.. on an orange.


Continuing my birds and citrus moment.. I present for your perusal..um..

'Orange'
(Watercolor)

Happy creative Wednesday ! I'm off to puppy training classes tonight.. hmm toilet training a pup is sooo much fun! ( lucky he is ridiculously cute!) :)

Cheers , Helen

Lemon

A splash of yellow !

.. A tidbit of info about me.. I drink hot water with lemon and honey every morning to wake up..

I'm just not a coffee or tea girl..

I love lemons.. the scent of lemon blossom just sends me... xxx