Thursday 28 February 2019

Art Elements Birds of Prey Challenge Reveal.

This month the challenge from the Art Elements team was set by Cathy Spivey Mendola  and was Birds of Prey.  To read the post click HERE

All of the Art Element team members are seriously talented and Cathy is no exception.  Her needlework and mixed media pieces are some of my favourites ever.  

At first, for this challenge, I looked out of my window and watched the birds of prey we have landing in the paddock.  Unfortunately, other than I know they are birds of prey and possibly Red Kites or Kestrels that is where my knowledge ends.  It isn't very extensive!  I did look up a few of the birds, the ones native to the UK, to see if I could identify them but in all honesty I just got a bit more confused.  I wanted to do something that involved the birds I see daily.  I am really lucky to have this opportunity, in fact I have just been sat in the garden (unprecedented weather in February here in the UK) having a cup of tea and watching one of the birds circle round and round and dive down behind my hedge to its prey.... I did have one eye on Miss 'Mudge the only cat of the house out with me at the time! 


I spent most of this month thinking of birds of prey and not really doing a huge amount about it as I really wanted to use the birds I see but not being able to find out which species they were I eventually 'settled' on the humble owl.  A bird well known in all the world.  Again I am really lucky to lie in bed at night and listen to the owls around me hooting away.  It can get a bit creepy late at night if I am on my own.  Anyone who thinks living rural is quiet has never left the city.  It can get really loud here with the wildlife, but I am not complaining. 

Last summer I was gifted by Lesley of the team three little frames that you hang from a hook.  They are small and very pretty.  I decided that being in a drawer wasn't doing them justice so I chose one, the green one - I have another green one and a purple one that I wanted to 'get round to' but this month has been a bit busy with vet visits and life as my big bruiser ex feral cat has dislocated his hip... I digress...

I wanted to layer a painting in this frame which was not for the faint hearted as the frame itself is only 2.5 x 2 inches and the aperture/window is only 1 x 1.5 inches.  I managed 4 layers, the background, the rock, the owl and the grass in front.  The owl is articulated in that his wing moves on a split pin.  He is obviously in the frame so not easy to move but that was how I wanted him so I went with it.  I am terrible at over analysing why I do things and if it is relevant, my promise to myself this year was to just 'do it' and stop waffling on!


I make quite a few owls in glass, I rather like them and they all come out so differently.  Lord Winston is February's owl.  I think he looks rather austere and could possibly be the chair-owl of the parish council, he just looks that sort of fella!


...and doodling....  I am rarely still and doodle constantly, these little owls appeared one evening during such a doodle....

To see what the rest of the team and guests have done with this challenge please click on the links below.  I hope you enjoyed seeing what I have created this month.  


Guests:

Team Members: 


26 comments:

  1. I will never not enjoy seeing what you have created.
    That's an adorable little owl in the frame. It seems we are all in love with owls! :-D

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    1. Something about owls that touches even the hardest hearts I think ;)

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  2. I love your owl in the frame, and your glass owl, but those doodles are fantastic! They have such personality!

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  3. The lampwork glass owl is so whimsical and full of personality!

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    1. Thank you :D I do enjoy melting glass and creating characters.

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  4. I always love seeing your layered paper creations. That wee little owl in the frame is juse adorable. And Lord Winston looks like a wise little man. Lastly, your doodles are fabulous. I love how you blocked off the paper to doodle in the sections. Very clever way to create!

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    1. Thank you :D In truth I was experimenting with a layout on my printer and thought it made a good 'short doodle box' so went with it :P

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  5. Your barn owl is gorgeous, I love his colouring and the frame fits him perfectly. Lord Winston is brilliant, he looks a right character, and I love the sketches too. The dog ones remind me of the film isle of dogs... if you've not seen it, it's brilliant. You'll love it!

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    1. It was a challenge going 'that' small! I will go and find that film, I do like a good dog film :)

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  6. Love the layers in your little framed owl!! And those doodled owls (and the puppies) are just too cute. Wonderful job with this theme! I hate that you couldn't settle on any of the other birds you were watching, but you just can't go wrong with an owl can you?

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    1. I really need to improve my knowledge of the birds of prey that literally visit my garden, I am lucky to have them around so I should know their name!

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  7. All so cute! That little owl doodle with the head turned sideways would be a great candidate for your abstract whimsy style. I can see the bead in my head!

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  8. I love your tiny articulated owl ( that should be a real owl name - Algenon the articulated owl.. :) )and he looks right at home in his frames. As always your glass sculpture is marvellous... I"m sure Winstone and Algenon are great friends!

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    1. From hence forth he will be known as Algenon :D

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  9. Laney, I always love seeing any little or big thing you do! So talented, and you've become one of my fave artists, right up there with Mary Engelbreit, my daughter, and one of my dearest friends, Francy King! Oh, and my Mom, though she doesn't paint anymore. That said, I hope the cat is healing ... not fun when our animals are suffering!! Alysen

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    1. thank you lovely lady, you have made my day :D Freddy Bear is doing really well although I think his feral days are well and truly behind him and he is now destined to be a house cat as he will never heal 'back to normal' and all we can do is make sure he is comfortable and has a good quality of life. The mouse population around us have been throwing parties for weeks now! LOL

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  10. I so enjoy seeing your creations and they always make me smile! I love the doodling page with the little frames! I may need to steal this idea from you! :)

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    1. I would love to see what you do with the doodle frame idea :D

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  11. Love your whimsical owls, Laney! The one in the frame is my favorite - the fact that you've given him a moveable wing is adorable. Hope your cat's hip heals well.

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  12. I love the idea of layering images in a frame - that is so cool.
    Lord Winston is so proper and neat :)

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  13. The colors of the owl portrait are perfect for the frame. That little chair-owl is the cutest owl I've seen during the hop. And as always, I love your doodles. I grew up rural and I miss the nature sounds at night - all I can hear in the city is traffic and people.

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  14. I love how you can cross media seemingly easily. Your work is beautiful! And that owl drawing it just so alive!

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  15. I couldn't believe the framed fella was so tiny! And I think you could talk a lot about Lord Winston whimsical character! Love your doodles!

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  16. Oh gosh, the owl in the frame is wonderful. I love the layers you created with it. The doodles are just too engaging. I love their expressive eyes! Fantastic work Laney!

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