Blue Bird
Deborah Trent, 2022 · Watercolor on paper
Each summer when I lived in Ham Lake, a Blue Bird visited my yard beneath the high-canopy old woods that covered most of my property. I had never seen such brilliant color on a bird so entirely blue. I waited for its return every year—never certain until the moment I spotted it again. The vivid blues of its feathers and the soft green backdrop of the woods are etched in my memory—this bluest of birds, a fleeting beauty.
Inspiration
I often paint birds—especially the visitors to my backyard. They bring such joy: the songs that promise spring is near, the midnight “who! who!” of an owl in the woods, the bright morning melody of an oriole. Their vivid plumage and astonishing long-distance migrations never cease to amaze me.
Artistic Process
I wrestled with the beak, sketching it several times, and—as usual—completed a couple of watercolor studies before nailing the boldness of the blue and the eye’s reflection.
- Brushes: grainer/rake, round sable, and a Princeton Stroke 1" for the background, finished with a light cotton-ball dab.
- Paints: Lunar Black, Ultramarine Blue, and Sap Green.
Reflections
Though just 5" × 7", this piece remains one of my favorites.
Date of Creation
February 06, 2022