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Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Birds Love Bugs for Creative Tuesdays


please click on drawing to enlarge.


The theme this week at Creative Tuesdays is "lovebugs".
Well, birds "love bugs", don't they?
I've been thinking about pussy willows a lot lately.
I want a bush in my yard!  And I want a pussy willow wreath
on my front door!  So, I thought it would be fun to have Mr. and Mrs.
Song Sparrow weave some into their little nest.
It's almost like insulation in the walls of your house, right? 

I used colors pencils, black ink and a white paint pen.

Creative Tuesdays meets weekly now!
I guess that means double the drawings!  You should consider joining us!



Click HERE to visit the CT blog.

74 comments:

  1. I can't believe I'm the first person to see this fantastic theme of love bugs. I was wondering how you would get your birds in the picture, and this is just so adorable. Love, love, did I say love the details in this one. I could crawl in that cozy nest myself. What a gormet meal of bugs...

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    1. thanks, wanda. :) Had to be really creative to get my birds in there! haha. I actually had to do this one twice! The first time I colored the twigs in the next dark brown and they blended in too much with the black background....and all the detail was lost. So, I had a free afternoon yesterday and decided to try again with the grey. Much better. :) I suppose if I was a bird, I've have flowers or pussy willows winding through the twigs, too. lol....

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    2. I've sure had those "do over" tries. I really love the grey. And the white hairs on the baby birds just makes me smile...What sweet babies...I can tell the parents are very proud!

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  2. This is just beautiful, the little birds are just perfect!I love this, beautifully sketched and painted,

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    1. aw, thanks, laurie! The babies were one of my favorite parts. Had to figure out how to make them fuzzy. See...this stuff comes naturally for you but I have to sit and think on it for a good long time. lol.

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  3. So pretty and sweet! I also love pussy willows. Congratulations on illustrating a children's book! That is wonderful.

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    1. thanks jill..the children's book was a lot of fun to do! And I think there may be more to come! How cool is that!?

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  4. great sketch...where do your talents end, Betsy??
    I have a pussy willow tree...pain in the a--....
    In the spring the furry buds get EVERYWHERE...now the tree is too tall to get any branches... :o(
    If you see them for sale in a cut bunch...put them into a container of water, and they will root...
    that is how I started mine...

    Good Luck!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. So, you're saying if I plant one I should make sure it will blow down wind into the neighbor's yard? lol.

      I didn't know they would root in water! I think I've seen bunches of them at our Sam's Club with the cut flowers! I'll have to take a look this week! Tbanks for that tip!

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    2. I even got Forsythia to root...pushed the branches into my Easter Flower box, and it is growing lovely little green leaves... perhaps I will get another shrub out of it!!!

      And......yes....plant it to blow on your neighbours.....mine does!!!!!
      Linda :o)

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    3. Forsythia is another one I don't have, but it reminds me of my childhood. There was a lot of them in our neighborhood!

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  5. is true they love bugs and this id so pretty Betsy!!
    love their little mouth open:))))

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    1. hey, gloria..how have you been today? :)

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    2. oh dear I have a terrible headache:(

      I sleep bad.
      Anyway I made a post xxxx

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    3. ugh...sorry!

      I'll come see what you've been baking! :)

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    4. Hi Gloria! Sorry about your headache! Can you send me a muffin?

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  6. Mmmmmmmm dinner! Excellent drawing!

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    1. hey...it's you! How did you escape to the computer? hahaha.

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    2. Well, I had one on my lap and 4 more playing around my chair. hee hee

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    3. Today was a bad one too. My baby climbed up and got a little cup of pizza sauce off the cupboard and splattered it ALL OVER my dining room carpet. Yucky! It looked like someone had commited a crime. :)

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  7. This is darling, Betsy! I love those sweet opened beaks!!

    XO,
    Jane

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  8. So very sweet! You are a talent!

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  9. aw how cute! those open mouths remind me of my hungry boys, always hungry wondering what's to eat! ha

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    1. Oh, I know it! I went to the grocery thursday and the food is gone! I'm not due for a grocery trip until this thursday but the frig is empty! ha.

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    2. ha, yes I totally know what you're saying! But I usually think if the fridge is empty and everything seems to be all ALL the time it only means that my kids are not hungry. And that's something to be happy about too! :) Hope you have a wonderful day, I'm off to the chiropractor...

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  10. Replies
    1. thank you Christine...can't wait to see yours, too!

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  11. Wow that was awesome once more
    Here at your shore
    Tons of detail went into this one
    That you gave a run
    And it has your birds galore
    With a bit more
    The worms were just eww
    But it beats regurgitation coming due..haha
    And you know with all the talk of willows of a certain kind
    And bushes unlike the one at my behind
    If Dez were here
    The mind would be in the gutter I fear..hahaha

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    1. Yeah, I think doing the detail is my favorite part
      it gives it more interest and a little heart! ha.

      Not sure how I could draw regurgitation
      I'm sure that fills all with elation
      they just have to be served bugs in their fresh state
      in their beaks, though, and not on a plate.
      haha.

      Please don't send Dez
      that would cause me dread.
      lol.

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    2. Yeah not sure how one would do that
      Although I'm sure it could be done at your mat
      As you seem to get much down
      And go right to down
      With all your art
      Adding that little extra heart

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    3. yes but all the stuff that makes people say "Ew!"
      I will leave up to you. lol.
      I'll just stay sweet
      and let you take the extra heat!

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    4. haha when really you are and "ew-er" in disguise
      Pretending not to be ew wise
      Bringing on the zombie feet
      To give all at your bay a treat

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    5. well, maybe you have a point
      do we like to make people's noses go out of joint?
      ha.

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  12. really with a little BBQ sauce they are not bad...smiles....cute picture betsy...lots of mouthes to feed there...so did you enjoy your time alone today?

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    1. bbq...haha...ok, I'll remember that. But do you wait until they stop wiggling? lol.

      I did enjoy my day alone..thanks for asking! :) Sweet silence...and I got a lot done!

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  13. That's a big brood they're raising. Nice take on the theme.

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    1. it is big! They're going to need a lot more bugs! lol.

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  14. This is a nice drawing Betsy. This type of ability, being able to get physical representations of animals and people down is what I wish for, even half as well as you've shown here. I've got books, and they're pretty neat taking you step by step through, but still tough- and you know what, I miss paint pens. There I said it. I used to have them around all the time, don't really know why, but my dad used to bring them home from time to time for stuff out in the garage or whatnot and I used to scarf em all up and doodle and stain whatever magazine or newspaper I put underneath. I think I'll have to head out to AC Moore and see if they've any. Thanks. And I think I'll check the Creative Tuesday out, see what it's all about. Thanks

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    1. Well, Fred...this does not come naturally to me. I have to plan ahead in my mind the layers I want, look on the internet to see how animals and objects actually look...and then I do a TON of erasing before actually moving on to ink. I have gotten better, though... and most of this one was from my imagination.

      Yes, you should get some ink pens! ha. I only have a white one but it gave the exact look I wanted here. I think I'll get a few more colors myself!

      You'd enjoy the CT group. I hope you try it out! I'm curious to know if you could work some of your abstract stuff into it! Or maybe you'd do something completely different from your normal works? Will be fun to see!

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  15. This is a really interesting take on the theme! The love is with other animals and the bugs show love, in that you love your family, your care for and feed them, and so on. These are very well rendered and I love the colors. I'm picturing a plate in an educational children's book (-: Thank you for posting this!

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    1. haha...Donna, you're thinking way deeper than I was here. I merely thought that bird love bugs...to eat. That's all. lol. But your interpretations work well, too! hahaha.

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  16. Gorgeous, Betsy! Really love this - so much detail and work went into this i can see - LOVEly, really!
    enjoy your Tuesday, we have rain here!

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    1. thanks, heather...we have rain today, too! Lots of it!

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  17. I always look forward to your drawings.
    Book?

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    1. Oh, I don't know! Maybe! I've thought about an illustrated cookbook..but I loose confidence when I think that anyone would actually buy it! lol.

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  18. Oh! HAhahahaa. that is a brilliant interpretation! seriously now! Lovely drawing too! So very much the scenery around you too. Ty s much, Betsy. What a great job! :D Msut have taken you AGES though! whoa.

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    1. Certainly you aren't too surprised that I took a cheeky take on that theme now, are you? :)

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  19. Good day Betsy rest in the work day LOL :)) Im cooking quince jam;) I will show next time:)

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    1. aww...quince jam! I still cannot find quinces here! Can't wait to see your photos!

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  20. This is lovely Betsy and so well drawn. The chicks big gaping mouths are great waiting to gobble down those bugs.

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    1. thanks, linda...it was so fun to do, too! Loved your cute little drawing, btw. :)

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  21. What a super illustration. I was never any good at pencils past colouring in books but you have it off to a tee.

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    1. thanks claire...I like them because you can erase! lol...

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  22. Wow, that's the kind of evil twist I would have given such a theme! Love it, doll!

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    1. batman with shades and a silver beard, huh? :)

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    2. and no mask with horns ...or are the ears? Bat ears? ha.

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    3. Yep, those are ears on the Batman cowl, not horns. But I removed the mask so you could see how I'd look in the Batman costume. Your turn, doll. Can't wait to see you dressed as Wonder Woman!

      And no, I wasn't really implying that you were evil. ;-)

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  23. Love your love bugs entry and your creativity!

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    1. thanks, stevie...you know, you really should join us sometime. You'd be a great addition to the group!

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  24. I looked at the picture and thought, "Those are worms, not bugs..." But you are right, birds do love bugs. :)

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    1. yes, the green one is a caterpillar but the one with blue wings is supposed to be a dragonfly. :)

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  25. That is a lovely picture. I have painted pictures of birds on glass using vitreous paint and fired them in the kiln. They are for center pieces etc in stained glass windows. I will show one or two on my blog soon.

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    1. Can't wait to see them, Keith! You lamp you posted about was gorgeous!

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  26. Hi,
    I found you as one of Thelmaz 26!! I've been browsing through your awesome photos and art work. I love what you did with the planter. It's so nice to meet you.
    Kathy at Oak Lawn Images

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    1. Hi kathy! I'm so glad you found me! Thelma and I just found each other through the challenge! Thanks for stopping by!

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  27. I love your pun. lovebugs/loving bugs
    Drawing - another one of your charms :) I can illustrate a really good stickman. I'm clever like that.

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    1. haha...you are SO funny. Hey, drawing stick men takes talent! lol...

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