Awww!

"Blue Jay Chick"

(Spring 2006)

    Taking their first few hops and pops in the grass as they begin to explore the world outside the nest... so cute!  Over the past several years I've watched many young birds get their start by hopping around the yard.  The parent bird is always perched somewhere nearby - watching.

"Robin Chick"

(May 2012)  

   Sometimes the parent will make their presence known using the not-so-subtle swoop overhead method... other times I've noticed that they sit somewhere just out of sight - waiting, watching - a single sharp chirp from the parent alerts the chick to start hopping toward the sound of the call. 

    This l'il robin chick was having a seista in the backyard on Saturday afternoon, well, that is until I heard the shrill call from it's momma alerting it of the approaching paparazzi (me!) and it started it's hippety-hoppity way home...

    I ♥ the little tufts of fluff still holding on and poking between the more mature feathers - darling!  

    ♥ Cath-

 

The Doodle That Inspired

"The Library"

(Watercolour, 7x10")

    This is the 'doodle' that inspired a whole waterfall of ideas....    

    While making this doodle, because that's what it started out as, I knew it was just for me so I could simply play.  I began with the tree because I wanted to play with a new texture idea I had and then the hedge came into play because I like drawing leaves... a little girl - reading of course! - soon I realized she needed fairy wings. Next the window, and who should appear in that window but a robin wearing pince-nez! A whimsical, swan-neck flower and a Chinese Lantern flower over the door were some of the last bits to be included...  

    For me, at the time, this picture told me just enough of it's story to interest me into exploring this seemingly quiet village.     

    I have visited this l'il village quite often since the time I completed this illustration late last year and have documented through simple illustrations what I discovered there... there is still so much left to explore - I can't wait to share it with you!!

♥ Cath-