Magpie Mania!

I was going to paint a barn owl tonight but it was getting late so I decided to do something just for fun - not that painting the barn owl wouldn't  have been fun, just wanted to spend a bit more time with that one and paint it when I wasn't half asleep!  I recently moved into a new house which is more in the centre of town rather than surrounded by fields and unfortunately this has meant that the variety of birds I get in the garden these days is much less - but that's in hand, I'm working on getting them in, planting a couple of trees etc.. ..... they're about, we've seen goldfinches flying overhead - they're just not visiting - but of course I get plenty of pigeons and magpies!  Not everyone likes magpies do they?  Yet I find them quite charismatic birds, always lively, always there to brighten up a dull day - and pretty intelligent too -  but they're just black and white people say - look a little closer and you'll see the sun picking out some gorgeous bluey greens in their feathers - so that's what I decided to paint tonight.........a magpie!

and just so I don't bring anyone any sorrow I painted another!

Two for joy!

and no I didn't spill my paint pot over them as my children would say (they are my worst critics and don't get the loose style!!)  the splatters and drips are meant to be there !  - after all it's just for fun!!  (mind you not keen on the big drip off his wing, wish I'd left that one!)