Sunday Sketches

I LOVE when the hummingbirds return!

Not only are they the most fascinatingly beautiful little bird, but I also enjoy watching their antics and listening to their whistle while working in the yard.

The Calliope hummingbird even hangs out in our area during the winter. Here is a watercolor and ink sketch of the little guy at rest.



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Mini Oils

Third time is the charm, right?!

I gessoed over these 4" X 5" mini canvases for the third time.

With the return of spring come my favorite little birds.

I decided to capture my totem animal on canvas.

Oddly, they post large which misses the point.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird

A Native; The Red-Flowering Currant

At the bleak tail-end of winter, red-flowering currant’s flurry of blossoms act like horticultural Prozac. Gracefully drooping clusters of crimson flowers adorn shrubs that have yet to leaf out. The blooms reassure us that yes, spring is nearly here. The rest of the year the shrub is a good garden citizen, greening up nicely with maple-like leaves, making berries for the birds, and turning gently yellow in the fall—while quietly awaiting its return to top billing.

I purchased several native plants from the Conservation District last year and am happy to report most are showing signs of life especially the red-flowering currants. Need I say, the hummingbirds are delighted?!

You can also see the red-flowering currant in open woods, on cliffs, and along roadsides in Washington.

Hummingbird Encounter

This morning I was honored to hold a hummingbird!

The poor little creature hit the window and landed on the ground in front of my cat. Quickly, I picked up the hummingbird. The little thing weighed hardly anything and sat in the palm of my hand looking at me. We talked for a while.

I placed the little guy (he had a touch of red on his throat; probably an immature male Anna Hummingbird) on the deck railing where he sat for awhile. I grabbed my camera as I have never had a hummingbird pose before.



When he decided to take off, unfortunately he crashed into the window of the door and ended up in the house! My cat was very excited now. I gathered the little hummingbird in my cupped hands and took him outside. After some deep breathing the little guy was ready to fly. I guided him towards the nearby trees.

I do not know which one of us had the most amazing encounter?

Hummingbird Sighting!

Yesterday I saw a hummingbird feeding at my primroses on the deck railing. How exciting! I immediately made up some food (high concentration of sugar in water) and placed the feeder outside my window.

PRESTO! This morning I saw my first hummingbird feeding.

But that is not really true.......

This winter at Christmas time I was house sitting/pet sitting at my friend's house. If you were in Washington at that time you would remember the snow and more snow. My car was stuck in their driveway, and I was snowed-in for a couple of days. Thankfully, I had my sketch pad and watercolor pencils. As I was drawing the beautiful tree outside the window a desperate hummingbird stared in at me. I immediately made their favorite syrup and added it to the empty feeder. The hummingbird returned and I was sooo elated. I thought I had saved its life!

Later, I learned that the Anna hummingbird sometimes spends winter in Washington (Why, is beyond my understanding). A new learning for me!

I cannot really say that the hummingbird's have returned until the Rufus hummingbirds show up. They make a grand entrance as they take over the feeder. They literally stand guard and chase off other hummingbirds. Not only are they very bold, but they are brightly colored their namesake, rufus.

Mandala Watercolor Painting #5

Beginning a new watercolor mandala painting, the initial line resembled a hummingbird, yet very stylized. I decided to go with the image. The hummingbird is my totem animal; from the Native American teachings the hummingbird represents joy. It also appeared in the second mandala of this series.

The hummingbird sings a vibration of pure joy. Flowers love hummingbird because nectar-sucking brings about the reproduction of their families. Plants flower and live because of hummingbird. Hummingbirds can fly in any direction, and can also hover in one spot and appear to be motionless.

According to Native American teachings, if hummingbird is your personal medicine, you love life and its joys. Your presence brings joy to others. You join people together in relationships which bring out the best in them. You know instinctively where beauty abides and, near or far, you jouney to your ideal. You move comfortably within a beautiful environment and help others taste the succulent nectar of life. Hummingbird hears celestial music and is in harmony with it.



This mandala relates to my joyous life; and, as my friend, Fernando says, "the beautiful colors of [my] essence," which is held lovingly.

Art Speak

I have been creating mandalas in watercolors to assist me in processing the recent loss of my mother. I find that during the meditative process of creating a mandala that thoughts and visual images appear. In my second mandala painting the shape of a hummingbird appeared.

The hummingbird happens to be my totem animal, and I took notice of what it might be telling me. According to Native Americans our fellow creatures, the animals, exhibit habit patterns that will relay messages of healing to anyone astute enough to observe their lessons. When you call upon the power of an animal, you are asking to be drawn into complete harmony with the strength of that creature's essence.

It is said that hummingbird conjures love as no other medicine does, and that hummingbird feathers open the heart. Without an open and loving heart, you can never taste the nectar and pure bliss of life. To brother and sister hummingbird, life is a wonderland of delight - darting from one beautiful flower to another, tasting the essences, and radiating the colors. Hummingbird sings a vibration of pure joy.

I am honored by the presence of hummingbirds; this winter as I was painting and a hummingbird showed up at the window, at my mother's funeral reception a hummingbird joined us, and while I was painting the second mandala in the series processing the loss of my mom this hummingbird image appeared.


Having just finished reading art therapist, Shaun McNiff's book, Trust the Process, I will re-frame from adding meaning to this mandala. Shaun believes that it is important to contemplate images with the attitude of withholding judgments or explanations of any kind. He says the interpretation of art can be approached as a tantric discipline that reflects upon visual qualities. He asks, "Why is it that we fell the need to respond to visual communications verbally?"

What do you think?