ROBIN

6"x6" oil on board Another little fat Robin. How I love to see them with their bright red breast.

Dark-eyed Junco

6"x6" oil on board The Junco is a small bird and prefers to forage for seeds and nest close to the ground. Wonderful for your bird feeders. They come in small groups rather than one at a time.

SOLD!

Black-capped CHICKADEE

5"x7" oil on canvas We see these regularly here, always a treat to see them!

Linda Huggins plein aire painting

Isn't this beautiful?? This is Linda Huggins painting. She paints the area here. I just love this.
I believe this is a 16x20. Oil on linen.

More pictures of the show

This was the last day of the show. What fun! We were sorry to see the weekend end but "all good things " as they say.

Bottom picture is Linda Huggins and Pat Reilly, next is everyone together, Shannon McNamara,Victoria Greene,Gayle Sewell,Pat Reilly and Linda Huggins. What a blast we had!!Top picture is me with my finished demo painting for today.

I miss you all already! XO

More Wine Festival

Two of the artists with Gayle. Victoria Greene (that's one of Vicki's paintings behind her)and Linda Huggins, a wonderful plein air artist in the gallery who paints scenes of Cambria and the surrounding area. I will post one of her beautiful paintings here tomorrow morning. The painting is my demo in progress that I will finish today,"good red" have a few things to add for balance.

We have one more day, today is the last day. It has been just the most fun! Lots of sales too , that's always nice!

Chambers Gallery and Wine Festival

We have had so much fun! These pictures were taken yesterday in a very bustling two days! Artists,patrons,new visitors, all were streaming through the gallery. I've been demonstrating (wine bottles of course) and visiting and I've posted some of the pictures this morning. I have a few more to post too.

From the top, my sister Julie Whitmore presenting a bottle of wine to Gayle Sewell, owner of Chambers Gallery. My finished wine bottle demo.Bird paintings and Paula Teplitz art displayed.One of the artist's, Victoria Greene and her husband Dick.Vicki's beautiful display of her oil paintings.

Valentine Birds

6"x6" porcelain clay. These are very newest clay pieces made of white porcelain.Some are glazed and fired, some are fired with a mix of media but all are porcelain.

I have several of these made and will be taking a few of them to the gallery today. They will have a little black cord for hanging.

Please click on the image to see a close up.

WINE FESTIVAL TODAY!

5"x7" oil on board The Wine Festival starts today! Wine tasting, pouring fabulous wine from all the local vineyard's in the area. Raffle,dinner,prizes and artists demonstrating painting all over town. I will be at the Chambers Gallery http://www.chambersgallerycambria.com/ demoing for the next 3 days so come down and see me if you are in the area! It's always a fun weekend! See you there!

Crow With Heart

8"x10" oil on board. Really loving the crows and Valentines. This one is being delivered personally by Mr Crow! SOLD!

PANSY"S

24"x30" oil on canvas. Pansy's for the workshop in April at Arts Desire in Vancouver WA.
www.bevelar.com
This painting will be the first of four for the 4 days 8-11. I am planning to paint all florals. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you there,it's always fun!

Valentine Crow

6"x6" oil on board. SOLD!

Valentine Crow

6"x6" I'm getting ready for Valentines day! He may be coming to a Valentine near you! SOLD!

Muscle Shell Mirror

14x37 muscle shell mirror. Amber Waltz.
We have had the wildest rain storm all over the state! Electricity knocked out for days in our town of Cambria and all through the neighborhoods. Lightening that could burn the retina, frightening thunder, trees felled and water, water everywhere!

A couple of days before all this, I chose to drive to the San Joaquin Valley to my daughter's for a fun visit and to receive my wonderful Christmas present, the shell mirror she had made for me. We couldn't believe the seemingly endless rain there ( they really need it)but then the drive back home was something else! Torturous and scary, with unbelievable rain and wind on the mountain. Happily, I made it home safely!

This little coastal community is really water logged but the electricity is back on and the sun is out this morning and it's time to clean up and get back to work.

My beautiful mirror is now on the wall and a lovely addition to my little beach cottage. She collected all the shells in coves along the beach in Carmel California several years ago while living there. Knowing I love these shells with their blue black outer coat and their lovely, pearly faces , she made this mirror for me. Nature in a pure form. It's a treasure. So is she.

BIRD SHOW

Yesterday was the bird show and exhibit in Morro Bay California. My sister Julie and I were so pleased to see the number of wonderful book displays, cameras, field glasses , telescopes and artisans. Lots of "birders" signing up for nature walks and bird observing in the various natural preserves.

Morro Bay is home to the Morro Estuary Natural Preserve. This encompasses 2700 acres including 800 acres of salt marsh ,wetlands area located with in the bounds of Morro Bay State Park. This beautiful and protected area is an important stop over and fly way and winter home to numerous water fowl, shore birds and different bird species.

Among the artists exhibiting in the show was one of my very favorites, Paula Teplitz. A potter from Arroyo Grande California. I have shown one of her pieces here. Her wonderful work( I have many special pieces) is available at the Chambers Gallery here in Cambria.

It was a very nice show and fun day being with like minded nature enthusiasts.If you are in the area it goes though Sunday!

CROW

6"x6" oil on board. The wiley crow. I'm fascinated by them. We have large groups here that just hang out. I have many trees in my yard especially a very large old oak that they just love.

Scrub Blue Jay

6"x6" oil on board
My beloved Scrub Jay. Funny little birds and very smart! I leave peanuts for them everyday. SOLD!

BARN OWL

5"x7" oil on canvas board

He only weighs a lb but has a huge 42" wingspan! He flys slow and silent in the night which means curtains for small prey. His soft fringe edged feathers don't swish as they move. He is nocturnal with keen eye sight and hearing. They like to live in barns, hence the name, attics,steeples ,silos and man made boxes. SOLD!

GREAT HORNED OWL

5"x7" oil on canvas on board. I love painting the "Great Horned Owl". He is adorned with the most beautiful feather markings. A real challenge to paint but always fun.

I had so hoped to receive my lamp yesterday but alas....no lamp! Painting in the kitchen because the roof in the studio is being repaired, yay! Just in time, it's raining! Not waiting for lamps, need to paint! Next I will ( attempt) paint the beautiful Barn Owl.

FEATHERS

I am so excited to receive my new art lamp. I've been waiting for it's delivery, any day now. I have rearranged my studio with a smaller easel and a more accommodating place to paint the birds. My newest painting will be an owl. Another Great Horned but also a Barn Owl. I think they are so beautiful.

There is a bird show in Morro Bay this Friday and my sister Julie http://juliewhitmorepottery.blogspot.com/ called this morning to ask if I'd like to go. We both love birds and love also to paint them.She hand builds and paints her birds in clay. This will be so exciting. There will be alot of wonderful bird paraphernalia with artists and collectors and oh yes those dandy new birdwatchers binoculars. Would so love to have a pair of those!

In the meantime, I wait for my lamp! Monday for sure and then I will get to painting!

CAROLINA WREN

5"x7" oil on board. This bird lives in the Eastern part of the US but is known to fly farther north to Canada and way south into Mexico. He is an insect eater and may even eat a small lizard or frog! Pairs may mate for life and both feed their young. Sweet.

African Gray

3"x5" oil on canvas on board. My friend Gayle www.chambersgallerycambria.com has several birds. Her special little guy is named "Silver". A beautiful and really intelligent bird with a huge vocabulary.This is her Christmas present. She hasn't seen it yet so mum's the word!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

How wonderful it will be to start a brand new and shiny New Year! A new year, out with the old anticipating the wondrous new. Make it fabulous! Enjoy every new day and minute of it!

I can't wait!!

XO Susan

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Christmas card by"Marisas's House" found at our darling shop here "Birds of a Feather".This is photographed in her doll house, oh how I swooned when I saw it having had a doll house of my own.I love that the lady of the house is making cookies !
My sister Julie is making my favorite butter cookies ( that my mother always baked)and my children and grandchildren are making the traditional cookie cutter frosted Christmas decorated cookies. YUM!
This is a wondrous time of the year.Our little town of Cambria is all dressed up and lit up in anticipation of Christmas.
I hope your day is special in every way. Be warm and cozy and enjoy!

I will be posting again after the first of the year, lots of new ideas!

God Bless, XO Susan

FAITH

18x24 mosaic "Faith" on wood with hand made earthenware clay pieces, broken shards of pottery and glass.
I love the beautiful art of the master Della Robbia. This is my humble attempt of a work in this genre.

ROBIN

8"x10" oil painting on wood panel. This Robin is much larger than the little English Robin. He lives in the woodlands and we have them here in the back country inland where its a bit warmer.
SOLD!

MAGPIE

5"x7" Black Billed Magpie
A woodland ground forager, he will eat just about anything! He has a 22"to 24" wingspan, emagine that!

WARBLER

Black Throated Blue Warbler 6"x6" oil on board.
A smal song bird. He lives in the wetlands and forests of New England. He dines on insects.

FINCH

6"x6" oil on board

This sweet little Finch is a song bird. He is a seed eater and this one lives in England. SOLD!

COAL TIT

5x7 oil on canvas

Living in the woodlands of England he eats seeds and insects. He is known for the white stripe on the back of his neck( not visible at this angle)and his coal gray colored feathers. SOLD!

NESTS

3 1/2x1x 1/2 handbuilt red earthenware clay

Gray colored nests. Many woodland nests are gray because of the natural weathering of twigs. These are two of the new gray. Back to painting birds today!

TUFTED TITMOUSE

5"x7" oil on canvas wrapped board.
A seed eater living in woodlands, he is often found with in a flock of Nut Hatches and Chickadees. SOLD!

NUT HATCH

6"x6" Oil on board. This little bird is a wood land bird. An insect eater.

NEST

3 1/4x3 1/2 The eggs of the Tree Swallow are pink! Lovely. Did you know that not only are the Robin's eggs blue but also those of the Eastern Bluebird?

NEST

31/2x11/2 My newest nest. Hand built in red earthenware clay.
I settled on a new glaze and I like the dark twiggy effect. The addition of the leaves and blossom bring in a more natural feel. The color of the eggs is a true Robins egg blue and I am excited to find it!
I have several of these nests firing now. Different colors of eggs. There is a pink egg laid by the Tree Swallow and the speckled white egg of the White Breasted Nut Hatch and House Sparrow. I have included these. I will post the nests as they are completed. Such fun! More bird paintings next week!

Angel Piqueassiette Wall Hanging

18x24 wall hangings. Piqueassiette tiles cut and grouted into place. I use glass and pottery and hand made pieces. I make the angels, they are hand built. I love making these and I will be making them for "Crimson " in Del Mar California. They are weather proof. Completley finished off and coated with a water sealant back and front.These are sold so making more!! SOLD!

HOLLY HOCK pillow

Just finished another pillow! This one is painted on linen.I LOVE painting on linen, it is like painting on butter, a lovely feel to it. The ruffles are linen also and the backing. Really loving linen, so natural. SOLD!!

WHITE RAVEN

11"x 8" hand built from red earthenware clay.

The White Raven! Rarely seen and mystical. He is adorned with a wreath of flowers and berries to welcome the coming holidays.

NEST

3"wide 1 1/4 tall. Made of red earthenware clay. Lots of glazing. Love making nests. I'm trying something new after Thanks Giving. Have a new idea. I have a couple more to post first.

All The Nests are gone, I'm making more and will post them when I get them made.