Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Here we are already on July 8th! Which means it’s Draw-a-Bird Day over on CreateArtEveryday, and it’s also #WorldWatercolorMonth created by Charlie O’Shields over at doodlewash.com.
Yesterday afternoon I felt inspired to paint a Lazuli Bunting I photographed back in May 2014. I used a Pentel Graphic Gear 0.7 to lightly sketch the beak, and snag it’s perched on, but kept the rest the painting loose. I’m pleasantly surprised how well it came out for not trying to sketch the whole bird.
The Lazuli Bunting is a Spring/Breeding visitor in my region of Northern California. I was very excited to see it him and add him to my “life list” back in the Spring of 2014.
The image I used as my reference is here.
Paint, Paper, Brush:
Sennelier L’Aquarelle in Cinereous Blue, French Vermillion, Bright Red, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, Naples Yellow Deep, Warm Sepia, Hooker’s green, Phthalo Green Light.
I painted this in my Strathmore Watercolor Art Journal 400 Series 8.5″ X 5.5″ 140lb paper.
Brush: Di Vinci Artissimo Rd #1
I’m posting this on both Creatarteveryday’s Draw a Bird Day, and #WorldWatercolormonth. If you have a moment please head over and check out the amazing work being done by artists all over the world.
More to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
Both are beautiful Deborah!
How utterly precious!
Thank you so much Cheryl! I’m a bit behind, sorry for the late response!
such a lovely photo and painting
Thank you so much Lynn! I’m a bit behind with emails, and blogs again. I’m slowly catching up so you’ll see pop in out of order looking over your blog for the next few weeks. xx
Thanks, I am as well. I am off baby sitting this week and next xxxx
🙂 How wonderful! I bet they’re growing and getting plump, and handsomer by the day.
They sure are! little sweeties
well done! A beautiful image both!
Thank you so much Hana! xx
Blue colored birds are something we don’t see where I live. When I’m on the continent, even the common blue jay will catch my eye. The Lazuli Bunting is such a striking bird, and you captured it well with your beautiful water color and photograph!
Aloha Wayne! Thank you so much!
No blue birds at all? We only have a handful of types here. I take the Scrub Jay for granted and I shouldn’t!
Beautifully done Deborah!
Thank you so much Susan!
Beautiful job, Deborah! You are really growing in WC, very impressed! And thanks so much for posting a link on my comments, helps immensely!
Gorgeous :-). Double wow for your painting and photo! Such a beautiful bird… (dreaming away…) Love the colours and your straight-to-paint technique.
Thank you so much Myriam!
That’s a beautiful bird (photo and painting). Couple of blue colored birds (rounded heads) visited my back yard the other day when I was watering so I did my best bird whistle imitation and it peaked their interest so they stayed for a minute wondering who is this guy was but they did not appear afraid. Wish I got a photo of them to identify what kind of birds they were.
Thank you so much Gordon! Hopefully those blue birds will come back so you can identify them and maybe get a photo too!
Nice! 🙂
Thank you so much Melissa!
Nicely done, Deborah. I’m always amazed at the breadth of your talent 🙂
Thank you so much Dan! You’re very kind!!
Woohoo! Great job Deborah! I love it!!!!!
Thank you so much Jodi! xx