American Robin Vector Art

 

American Robin and Apple Blossoms At Redbubble

Here is my latest vector bird art. For around a year I have been trying to come up with an American robin composition without much success, and then a few days ago while looking at the chickadee design I posted last, I got an idea using clipart of a robin I made for microstock agencies.

 It came together so easily, the flowers are from a composition I was playing around with. I thought they would be perfect with the robin and can pass off as flower blossoms of an apple tree. I uploaded the art to my Redbubble shop where it can be bought on a variety of merchandise such as pillows, mousepads and of course posters and prints including on canvas.

American Goldfinch Facts

 Bird Watching In Southern Ontario

The American Goldfinch

 

As is true with most bird species, male birds are much prettier than the females, and the American Goldfinch is no exception. During the months of spring and summer the male American goldfinch is a spectacular bright yellow color with a black cap and black wings that have a bit of white. Compare that with the rather olive drab and pale yellow color of the female American goldfinch. But once fall and winter arrive the male American goldfinch looks just as dull as its female counterpart, in fact you would think that you are looking at a completely different bird, that's how dramatic the change in appearance is of the male.

American goldfinches are found across most of the United States and up into Canada across the southern section, including right here in southern Ontario. In many parts they stay all year round but in winter you would have a difficult time spotting them from among other birds because they lose their bright yellow plumage and black caps making then similar in appearance to that of other birds such as sparrows.

 Goldfinches like to hang out in large flocks and are frequent visitors to backyard gardens. They enjoy feeding on thistle and other weed seeds. But don't worry, your backyard doesn't need to be overgrown with weeds to attract goldfinches, an easy way to get them into your backyard is to fill a bird feeder with black oil sunflower seeds. Once they know your yard has a feeder containing sunflower seeds they will be coming back again and again. Because of their social nature goldfinches will gladly share the bird feeder with other birds so don't be surprised if the feeder gets a wee bit overcrowded.

Goldfinches are not aggressive but will defend their territory during nest building season. They are quite active and don't stay perched on a branch for very long. It never gets boring watching these little birds with their notched black tails and a few white bars in their wings, and did I mention that black cap? Very cool looking birds indeed!

 Did You Know?

• American Goldfinches are sometimes called "Wild Canaries" because of their yellow color
• During winter they make burrows in the snow for added warmth
• The American goldfinch molts twice a year, in late winter and in late summer
• Though American goldfinches stay all year long in many places, they will migrate if the weather gets too cold or there is a lack of food source. 

 

 Birds In Art

Being the pretty bird that the American goldfinch is, it is a favorite subject for many artists who enjoy painting nature scenes, including me. 

Here is a digital painting I recently made of an American goldfinch perched on a tree branch among dogwood flowers, or apple blossoms, take your pick (no pun intended). 

It can be purchased on a variety of gift products such as pillows, coasters, cell phone cases and art prints including posters, at Redbubble

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed reading this short article about one of North America's favorite birds.

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

 

Bird Watching In Southern Ontario

The Yellow-rumped Warbler

Warblers are one of the migratory birds found across Northern America that pass through southern Ontario, I had no idea they took a pit stop in my backyard during spring until I began birdwatching in my yard. Some like the Yellow-rumped warbler will even hang around the entire summer.  

The Yellow-rumped warbler is one of the larger warblers, it gets its name from the bright yellow patch at the base of the tail which makes it easy to distinguish from other warblers, especially the Magnolia warbler which is very similar in appearance, in fact when I was painting one I wasn't sure whether it was the Magnolia or Yellow-rumped warbler I was depicting.

Besides their yellow "butt" they also have some yellow on the sides below the wings and males have a visible yellow "cap" on the top of the head. And like the magnolia warbler, the Yellow-rumped warbler's white breast is streaked with black (Magnolia warblers have a yellow breast). As is the case with all warblers, it has a short pointed bill.

There are 2 subspecies of the Yellow-rumped warbler, the Myrtle warbler found in the north and east of North America, and the Audubon's warbler found in the west. The Myrtle warbler has a white streak above the eye whereas the Audubon does not not but has a yellow throat.

You won't find warblers at your bird feeder as they are not seed eaters, their diet consists of some berries, nector and insects found on the branches of trees. To attract warblers to your backyard you can plant berry producing plants. And since they like nector you might want to try putting out a hummingbird feeder in an attempt to attract warblers. Some have also been known to come to feeders containing suet.

If your backyard is visited by warblers, spotting one is difficult because they are very active birds that don't stay in one spot for more than a few seconds as they are always on the look out for a meal. Your best chance of getting a good look at one is during migration in the spring when there are more of them around and before leaves on trees have fully formed. If you are patient with a pair of binoculars you may just find a few flitting quickly from branch to branch, and one of them may be a Yellow-rumped warbler!

Did You Know?

The yellow-rumped warbler is the most common warbler in North America

The Yellow-rumped warbler winters in the souther US, Mexico and Caribbean

This warbler with the yellow rump is humorously but  affectionately is called "Butterbutt"

 

 

My Digital Bird Art of Yellow-rumped Warbler and Purple Iris Flowers

Available at Redbubble on an assortment of gift products and art prints

Stylized Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

 

Buy A Hummingbird Art Print

Being the most common hummingbird seen in North American gardens, the Ruby-throated hummingbird may look tiny and delicate but don't let its appearance fool you, like all other hummingbirds it is very territorial and will fight aggressively to defend its space. 

During the summer it travels as far north as Canada and in the fall migrates to the warmer climate  of  Central America and Mexico. To attract hummingbirds to your backyard plant tubular flowers in pink or red since those are the colors that get their attention.

The picture accompanying this post is a remade digital painting of an earlier Ruby-throated hummingbird vector drawing. This picture differs mainly in that it is composed of solid colors without any gradients being used. Another change is I added a female hummingbird. Besides being sold as prints in my Imagekind gallery, this composition is also sold on various products from Zazzle such as the coffee mug pictured below:

Hummingbird Among Flower Coffee Mug
by waterart

If you would like to personalize this or any of my other art on products drop me a message through the contact page.

Chickadees and Orange Lilies

Chickadees and Lilies

by Pixel Paint Graphics

An updated version of one of my earlier digital bird art paintings. This one was made in a vector graphics program.

Black Capped chickadees are one of my favorite birds, they visit my yard quite often and like to snack on sunflower seeds from the bird feeder. Chickadees don't feed at the feeder like other birds but take the seed into a tree, break the shell open against a branch and then come back for more.

Yellow Orange Pansies

Yellow and Orange Pansy Art Prints

Flower art on posters, fine art prints and gallery wrapped canvas of yellow Pansies. Frames optional.

See Buying Details

 

Alstroemeria Abstract Art

Alstroemeria

Digital flower painting of pink Alstroemeria. Cropped close in a contemporary abstract style. Buy on gallery wrapped canvas or fine art prints in different sizes with optional frames at Imagekind 
 

Orange Lily Art

Tiger Lily

The orange lily is the second in a series of digital floral art I'm making. Here it's shown framed but it can be purchased unframed as well as on gallery wrapped canvas from Imagekind.

Modern Floral Art

Purple Iris

I'm excited to be started on a new series of floral paintings made in a vector graphics program in a contemporary style with an abstract flair. This Iris pair being the first in the series, it can be purchased at Imagekind on canvas or on a variety of fine art paper in different size dimensions and optional framing.

Bearded Iris Painting

Buy Purple Iris At Imagekind

 I made this purple Bearded Iris painting in a vector graphics program. It's based on an original acrylic painting I made recently. The really cool thing about creating digital art is that you can make all sorts of changes without ruining the artwork.
 
 I often have a hard time deciding on the background for my artwork and this Iris was no exception. I finally decided on a gradient that goes from a soft blue to a pale yellow in the lower corner to resemble a hint of summer sunshine.to versions Available at Imagekind on prints and canvas. Note by default the product page will show a framed print but you can easily change to unframed from the options underneath the framed print as well as choose a size.

Alstroemeria Flower Art

American Goldfinch and Alstroemeria Art Print by waterart
Browse Alstroemeria Posters

Although the yellow American Goldfinch is suppose to be the focus of this digital painting, the Alstroemeria flowers took the spotlight. And I'm not surprised, I think Alstromerias are one of the most beautiful flowers to grow on this planet. This art print can also be purchased on stretched canvas and gift items.

Chickadee and Flower Art

Flower and Chickadee Art Room Decals by waterart
Check out other Lilies Wall Decals at zazzle.com

 

Chickadee and Flower Magnets by waterart
Look at Flowers Magnets online at Zazzle.com

 Black Capped Chickadee and flower art on gift items depicting a pair of Chickadees perched between two orange Lilies with some yellow daisies in the background. This art can also be purchased as posters, prints and on stretched canvas.