Amazing day – I went to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Powwow.  Hundreds of beautiful bustles and jingle dresses for the dancing competitions – tribes beating the large drums together and singing for the vocal competitions. 

Everything was very impressive.   (I didn’t, however, get the chance to go to the food booths and check out the fried flat bread and Indian tacos…I heard they were good.  But I can’t complain – the dinner I had was superb. )

As I mentioned earlier here on the blog, I have some Native American heritage.  Years ago my Mom was a part of a tribe and danced in the powwow.  One of my artist friends, who is Apache, has been helpful and aided my interests as well.

I had so much fun…I think I will have to see another one soon.

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I have been having technical difficulties this week - each electrical storm that has gone through our area has blown out the power (and it’s remained out for a long time).  So…  I have been doing some painting by candle light….at least until my eyes get tired.

(Thankfully, my laptop has a large battery and a dialup connection, so I’m not completely cut off from the outside world… )

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Some people find it interesting that I (or other artists in my family) will bring twigs, sticks, grass, rocks, leaves, logs, etc. into the studio to paint from life - so I thought that some of you may like to see the log that’s in my studio right now for the fox paintings that I’m working on.  It, and the other sections of trees that I gathered for this project, are being returned to the "wild" when the paintings are completed. . 

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This past weekend my family and I held our annual spring wildlife art show at the Saint Croix Carpenter Nature Center.  Our art shows are held in the spring and late fall at the nature center’s Trailside Lodge or Visitor Center (this show was in the Visitor’s Center).  This year the University of Minnesota’ Raptor Center  held their spring raptor release at the nature center also - releasing a rehabilitated American bald eagle, a broadwing hawk, and two red-tail hawks back to the wild on Saturday.

These snapshots of our art show are during one of the quieter moments on Saturday.  Thanks to everyone that dropped by to see us!! (The artwork in the second photo are all original works - we had a number of larger originals on display this year as well.)

(This is my mobile studio at the show. )

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This is the painting that I made at the Minnesota Safari Club State Convention - a Cape Buffalo (my first one! ).   This piece was painted on Saturday during the show.  I took a few photos of a number of mounts on display during the VIP preview on Friday night of the show for references. (I didn’t get much too much sleep with last minute preparations and the snowstorm/blizzard that hit the Twin Cities during the show - the painting was finished with the help of numerous cups of coffee. ) 

Thanks to everyone at SCI for their help at the show and for what you do for conservation!

Beginning to draw in the darks and definition and the lighter tones into the horns. (11:52 am)

Darks and highlights are defined - just starting to add the background. (1:31 pm)

Blending in some midtones and textures.  (2:03 pm)

(Almost done! )  Added more to the backdrop.  Strengthened the highlights and painting in more details. (5:21 pm)

An image of the finished Cape Buffalo painting.  (around 6:00 pm)

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This is the initial sketch for my "quick draw" painting for the Minnesota Safari Club auction this evening. :) 

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This is a a drawing that I’ve been working on today - the beginnings of my next painting .  It’s a redtail hawk, Jamaica, from the Minnesota Raptor Center.  I am just about finished with the sketch and should begin painting it in tomorrow . 

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I went for a short walk the other day and saw an adult American bald eagle soaring overhead. It was soaring fairly low, which surprised me a little. There are quite a few of them that appear to be nearby residents and frequent the local area throughout the year. Their numbers seem to be growing, which is wonderful.

I believe the Bald Eagles are beginning to migrate down the Saint Croix and Mississippi rivers, as they always do this time of year. A trip to Wabasha during the migration is quite an experience. I could watch the bald eagles fish in Lake Pepin for hours, and often do when I’m able to make the trip. Sometimes they fly up to perch in the trees along the edges of the lake, letting us get a closer look at them. There are usually crowds of people and cars around the birds that have situated themselves so close to everyone.

During one migration a number of years ago, one of my birding friends spotted hundreds of bald eagles, with a strong pair of binoculars of course. I was able to see between 50 and 100, all of which were close enough to photograph or sketch. It was definitely an inspiring trip, though it was cold, as it usually seems to be during fall migration. Everyone is bundled up in layers and layers of clothing, and still chilled with numb faces and no feeling left in their fingers. The joys of birdwatching. As frozen as everyone is after an outing, no one regrets the trip.

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I started a new owl painting. This piece is a barred owl and is a little larger than the last owl I painted. It is only a sketch in this post, but the color version of it is beginning to take shape on my easel and should be completed soon.

I really love painting all species owls, but Barred owls are one of my favorites. I have been able study quite a few of them in my visits around the country to various wildlife rehabilitation and education centers. I am always drawn to the dark eyes of the barred owl. They seem to be immediately captivating, and often appear to be black when they aren’t in direct sunlight.

There are very few owls in North America that have dark eyes. The Barn Owl, Flammulated Owl, Spotted Owl, and of course, the Barred Owl. Most of the owl species have the more common golden iris, that is also very striking in it’s own way.

Occasionally, I have been able to see the Barred Owl in the wild while on a nature hike. I was able to spot one during a day trip hike in the Everglades a few years ago, though the Barred Owls in Florida do look a bit different than our northern Minnesota variety, primarily smaller and thinner from my observations.

I have been able to listen to them fairly regularly here in Minnesota, though I haven’t been able to spot one of them in the wild yet. Quite often there are two of them calling to each other during the winter, courting.  See the comment post for a Barred Owl audio clip.  Enjoy!

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I have been out in the field in search of wildflowers or other interesting things to sketch today.    This is a wild oat wildflower that is just beginning to bloom here in Minnesota. 

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