Chihuahua Novelty Pillow

I was inspired to make this design featuring my 2 year old Chihuahua from a forum post I was reading on one of the print on demand sites I sell my art on. This pillow is sold at Redbubble

Chihuahua Butts Only Pillow

Geometric Chickadee Abstract

Black Capped Chickadee Art 

One of the hardest things for me when creating with color is deciding what colors work best. It is probably the one thing that contributes most to the time it takes to finish a picture, well maybe not the one thing, deciding on a compositional arrangement sometime takes a lot of my time too, kind of like the person not being able to to decide where to put the furniture and has the movers moving it back and forth around the room, ha ha.

Anyway because I couldn't decide which color looks better here are 2 versions of my recent chickadee composition, one is with a black background and the other with a pale green background.

 

Black Capped Chickadee - By at Pictorem

Black Capped Chickadees - By at Pictorem

This and other animal art is sold on various products at studioart.redbubble.com

Cedar Waxwing

Birds of Southern Ontario

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar waxwings are native to North and Central America. They make their winter home in the southern part of the US but in summer they can be found in Canada, and at the very southern end of Ontario they can stay all year long. I got my first and so far my only look at them a few years ago when over a dozen decided to make a pit stop on one of the apple trees in my backyard. It was amazing, I get so excited whenever I get a glimpse of a bird species I have not seen before, and to have them visit my yard, wow!

If you ever get a chance to see these magnificent birds you will not be disappointed, Cedar waxwings are striking in appearance, they have a black streak running through their eyes with a thin white accent, and a drooping crest on the head. The tail is rather short with a yellow tip. The overall color of the Cedar waxwing is a brownish tan and pale yellowish belly. The wings are grayish. Waxwings are named so because of the red tips on the wing feathers which resemble wax seals. Both males and females look alike.

 Cedar waxwings are very social and non territorial birds, they are always seen in flocks, sometimes in the dozens, feeding together, and they do not hesitate sharing food. Their diet consists of berries and various other sugary fruit. In particular, the Cedar waxwing got its name from its delight of eating Red Cedar seed cones. Insects are also part of their diet. Because of their love of fruit they are seen as pests by some farmers whose fruit farms are damaged from large groups coming in for a feast.

 Providing water with berry producing plants growing close by could very well catch the attention of these unique looking birds and bring them into your yard as they are quite fond of bathing. Having fruiting trees can also attract them.

Cedar waxwings are considered songbirds, their sound is a high pitched clear but thin series of calls, including trills, often sounded while in flight.

 

Did you know...?

• Cedar waxwings are sometimes called Canadian robins, recellets, cedar birds and cherry birds

• They are fast and can fly at speeds reaching 25 mph or 40 km/h and at an altitude of 2,000 feet or 610 meters

• A group of waxwings is called an ear-full

• The Bohemian waxwing is very similar in appearance but a bit larger

• Waxwings like eating overripe or fermented fruit which can cause them to get a little tipsy

Waxwing Pillow

 

Cedar Waxwing Art

My digital art of a Cedar Waxwing can be bought on pillows and other products including art prints from Redbubble

 

Baltimore Oriole

 

Birds of Southern Ontario

Baltimore Oriole

 

Photo Credit: BBarrow/pixabay.com

 With a name like "Baltimore" Oriole you would think, or at least I thought that this handsome bird was first discovered in the city of Baltimore, but that's not so. The Baltimore Oriole was named after a prominent English Family of the 17^th because their coat of arms consisted of similar colors. Now how's that for trivia!

Baltimore orioles are found through eastern and some central parts of the United States as well as here in southern Ontario. They arrive in spring and migrate during the fall season to their winter home in Central American countries and some parts of Mexico, even Florida.

In the world of birds, the male is more striking in appearance than the female and the Baltimore oriole is no exception with it's bright orange belly contrasted with its black wings, and black head that looks like he is wearing a hood. The female on the other hand is a dull orange yellow in color with brownish wings. Young males look similar to the females, it isn't until their second year that they get their distinctive coloring.

 

Baltimore Orioles are mostly solitary birds but often times when you see one there may be another one not that far behind.

I got my first good look at one when I put up a hummingbird feeder in the hopes of attracting hummingbirds. Well to my surprise instead of getting hummingbirds I got a Baltimore oriole coming for a sip. Turns out they love nectar and are known to frequent hummingbird feeders. They also love oranges so I got rid of the hummingbird feeder and put up half an orange. It didn't take long before one or two would be coming back for more.

Besides oranges they also like grape jelly though I haven't tried feeding it to them myself, for me it is easier to just cut an orange in half and place it where other critters can't get to it. No fuss, no muss and nothing to clean afterward. So if you want to attract Baltimore orioles to your backyard the easiest way and best time is with an orange in late spring because once summer is in full swing they prefer the delicacies of insects and will visit your "orange station" less often.

When I hear a Baltimore Oriole sing, to me it sounds sad, as if it is longing for something. I call it the sad song of the Baltimore Oriole and when I hear it I know there is one close by. Males sing to guard their territory and attract the attention of females, and the females sing to communicate. Click to hear the Baltimore Oriole's voice

 

Did you know...?

• The name "oriole" comes from a Latin name meaning "golden"

• The Baltimore Oriole belongs to the Icterid family of birds which also include Red-Winged Blackbirds and Grackles. But you gotta admit the Baltimore oriole is the prettiest of the bunch!

• There's a baseball team named the Baltimore Orioles. Yeah I know, you knew that one.

• New world orioles including the Baltimore Oriole, are unrelated to the orioles of the old world

   

  Baltimore Oriole Art 

  

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Housewarming Gifts

 Home Sweet Home Pillows

Flamingo Design Pillow

If you are looking for a unique house warming gift perhaps this "Home Sweet Home" pillow with a pink flamingo design will fit the bill. You can get just a cover or with the insert at Redbubble

The artwork is from one of my digital bird paintings made with Inkscape