Chickadee and Chicks

I'm still plugging away with my watercolors and I have a couple to share that are at least recognizable. On September 8th we went to Meyer's Hatchery in Polk, OH. to pick up six tiny chicks. They are the cutest things ever and Gena and I have been spending as much time as possible with them so they will not only be good egg layers but also good friends. The new additions to our family are Maggie, Debi(both named after high school classmates), Amelia, Susy(named after my junior high German teacher), Harriet and Cuddles.

This painting was my third attempt and although it has a lot of flaws I'm happy with it. I painted this from one of my photos....no way I can sketch constantly moving chicks! Amelia, as in Amelia Earhart, is the yellow chick and was so named because she was trying to fly since she was a day old. Amelia is a Blue Ameracana, which is considered a rare breed. Susie is a Barred Rock and although she was named after my German teacher, her name also pays tribute to a Polish hen my grandfather had that he named Susie. When I went to "the farm" she followed me everywhere, including the rowboat that was on the edge of the pond.

The second painting is of a chickadee, one of my favorite birds. This was also sketched and painted from one of my photographs. Shortly after I completed this, a chickadee, for the first time ever, ate sunflower seeds from my hand and a couple days later it also ate from Gena's hand. What a neat experience!

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Robin Arnold Art

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