Small Acts of Kindness: Lessons from a Mockingbird

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Sometimes the smallest moments in nature leave the biggest impression.

A few weeks ago, Rosie, Sadie, and I were in our backyard when a mockingbird became quite upset as we got close to one of the hedges. She chirped loudly, making it very clear we weren’t welcome there. I immediately backed away, figuring she must have a nest or babies nearby.

About a week later, it happened again in another part of the yard. Once again, I respected her wishes and quickly moved away.

Then something unexpected happened.

The following week, I watched that same mockingbird fly in carrying a strand of coconut seeds still attached to the twig. The bundle looked so heavy I had to laugh—it seemed like it weighed more than she did! She dropped it right on the sidewalk where Rosie, Sadie, and I walk every day.

A few days later, she did it again… and then one more time. I couldn’t help but wonder, Was she bringing me gifts?

After a little research, I learned that while mockingbirds don’t normally do this, there have been instances where birds leave small gifts for people who regularly feed and care for them. Since I refill the bird feeder and fresh water every day, maybe this sweet little bird recognized me as someone who helped.

Whether that’s what she intended or not, I’ll never know. But it touched my heart and reminded me that even the smallest acts of kindness can create unexpected connections between two very different worlds.

Have a beautiful day, and may you find joy in life’s little surprises.

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gray and white bird perched on the tree branch
Photo by Brian Forsyth on Pexels.com

Growth Art Journal

I love to create in my journal in between studio projects, it’s a creative sanctuary for me. I found this image of flowers in an old Romantic Homes magazine and couldn’t resist creating a journal spread around it. I fell in love with the vibrant springtime vibe it had.

Beginning with the blank canvas in one of my favorite Strathmore watercolor journals (7.75×9.75″), I let my thoughts flow onto the page. Layer by layer, I added pieces of decoupaged tissue papers and snippets from old books, creating an interesting textured background. I used everything in my studio from watercolors to acrylic paints, pens, colored pencils, and even a sprinkle of glitter, to add depth and dimension to the design.

I finished it off with a quote by Steven McCanie:

“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”

May this glimpse into my creative journey inspire you today. Thanks for stopping by!!

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Studio Update – Online Class

This week I’ve been busy working on a new abstract plus I’m enrolled in an online course called Birdsong & Blossom by Lindsay Green a very talented floral artist in Northern Ireland.

These birds were a warm up exercise for the class and I wasn’t crazy about them at first but I kept my faith and found it amusing how one by one, each bird took on it’s own unique personality. By the time I finished I was in love with them and thought they turned out pretty cute 😊 So stay tuned as I’ll be posting the finished painting shortly.

I recommend hopping over to Lindsay Green’s website and browsing her art and online classes. You can also find her on Instagram at @lynsaygreenart.

Hope you’re having a fantastic weekend, thanks for stopping by!!

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“Every artist dips his brush into his soul and paints his own nature into his paintings.” ~Henry Ward Beecher

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Studio Update Yello’s BIG Solo

This is a new 4×12 inch canvas I finished over the weekend. It’s an adorable painting with a textured background and 5 beautiful little birds. Instead of painting flowers I thought it would be fun to add more interest and accent this piece by using paper flowers and leaves. I also added a quote “Sing your song.”

Since this is painted on a 1.5 inch thick canvas, this artwork is ideal as a shelf sitter making it the perfect décor for a desk, shelf or counter but can also be hung on the wall.

‘Yello’s BIG Solo’ is available in my Etsy Shop, if interested.

Hope this inspires you today, thanks for stopping by!!

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Stay on the Sunny Side of Life Art Journal

This is a fun journal page I created a while ago with Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils. These colors are much bolder and brighter compared to Kimberly Watercolor Pencils which is what I started with. They both work really well but when you want that extra pop of color, Derwent Inktense Pencils are the way to go.

The fun part with watercolor pencils is you can use them in different ways. You can color with them like a crayon and use a brush dipped in water to activate the paint. Or you can dip your brush in water first and then rub it on the tip of the pencil to pick up color. Another way is to shave off a little of the color, then use your brush with water to paint. No matter how you use them, they’re awesome!

Hope this inspires you create some art today, thanks for stopping by!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Flamingo Gardens

Growing up, my family and I would embark on a wonderful adventure to Flamingo Gardens located near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was founded by Floyd and Jane Wray in 1927 as a citrus orchard and was originally named Flamingo Groves. Getting fresh squeezed orange juice from the trees on the property was one of the highlights of my trip.

The Wray’s built a weekend home up on the Live Oak hammock in the groves. They would have annual bar-b-ques on the grounds surrounding their home and they’d give daily tours of the citrus groves and botanical gardens. Plus they even had a fruit shipping area.

According to Mrs. Wray the property came with flamingos that would nest there and she decided in the 1940’s to bring peacocks to the grounds for the visitors. With alligators inhabiting most parts of South Florida they introduced an alligator exhibit in the 1960’s with daily shows.

Sadly Mr. Wray passed away in 1959 at the age of 68. To honor her late husband, Mrs. Wray established The Floyd L. Wray Memorial Foundation in 1969 to preserve the property for future generations to enjoy. The name was changed to Flamingo Gardens and it was expanded to include an Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary with the Bird of Prey Center and a Free-Flight Aviary. This was the first of its kind in the country and permanently injured or non-releasable native Florida wildlife would call the sanctuary their home. More wildlife exhibits were introduced and included River Otters, Bobcats, Florida Panthers, Tortoises and Bald & Golden Eagles.

The 60 acre botanical gardens showcase over 3,000 rare and exotic species of tropical, subtropical and native plants and trees. If you have the chance to visit South Florida definitely add Flamingo Gardens to your travel plans, you won’t be disappointed!

I hope you enjoyed this travel snippet, thanks for stopping by!!!

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All photos taken by Maria Vidaurre at Flamingo Gardens

Springtime Chicks Art Journal

I was browsing online and came across a fun tutorial for painting birds so I thought it would be cute to paint them in fun whimsical colors 🐤

I created these in my Strathmore 8×5.5″ Watercolor Journal. It’s a really fun size to use because it can also be a bit challenging. I like that it takes me out of my comfort zone and gets me to try new things.

What is your favorite size journal to create in?

Hope this inspires you, thanks for stopping by!!!

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“From small beginnings come great things.” ~Unknown

Easter Bunny Art Journal

I started this journal layout just before Easter but didn’t have the time to finish it until after. Better late than never I guess. This is a pretty simple design but cute and very happy.

I created this in my Strathmore 8×5.5″ Watercolor Journal. I love the heavy 140 lb watercolor paper because I tend to use a lot of water and it holds up nicely. Most importantly, it doesn’t bleed through to the other side which is something that I really don’t like.

You don’t necessarily need a plan to journal. Just start with one thing. For example, I started this layout with the idea of one big Easter egg. Everything else just followed as I went. So it was quite a fun surprise when I finished.

Hope this inspires you this weekend, thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainty.” ~Eric Fromm

Thoughtful Thursday The Joys of Spring

Photo by Alesia Kozik on Pexels.com

The first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere is coming this Monday, March 20, 2023 and it will run until June 21, 2023. You may have already noticed the warmer temps moving in, birds nesting and beautiful flowers beginning to bloom. Also, on this first day of Spring the hours of daylight and night are almost equal. It always takes some adjusting to the new longer days ahead.

On my lovely morning walks I’ve seen many squirrels busy building their nests. You can tell the difference between a bird and squirrel nest from the ground because birds primarily build their nests with twigs. Whereas squirrels use fresh branches with the leaves attached. You may also notice a lot of small pieces of fresh branches with leaves on the ground.

This was a photo I took with my phone of a squirrel nest. They’re easily seen once the leaves dry and turn brown. Squirrels can have anywhere from 2-4 babies usually between the months of February to May. They have a hefty appetite and will eat their own body weight every week which is about 1.5 pounds. I love watching them in the mornings with their high energy, it motivates me on my walks 😊

Have you checked your yard for signs of any new babies that may be coming soon?

Hope you enjoyed today’s post. Thanks for stopping by!!

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Stand out in the Crowd Watercolor Painting

I wanted to share with you a fun watercolor painting I created a while ago. This is one of my favorite happy color combinations. For this piece I actually made 2 paintings. One was used for the background and the other was used to create the birds which I traced from a stencil, cut out and adhered to the background painting.

One thing I love about watercolor is that you can lift the paint off using various techniques. For the birds I used a stencil and a Wet Ones hand wipe to lift the paint off the paper. When using this technique, you want to make sure you have a fairly dark background so you can see the color variations where the paint was lifted.

To make the blue bird at the top even more different from the others I painted it with clear glitter paint. I also used a stamp with white embossing powder to add more interest. The quote in the bottom right was getting lost so I added a border to give it more pop.

You only need a few basic inexpensive supplies to create art and have fun. So what are you waiting for? Start creating some happy now 😊

Hope this inspires you in some way, thanks for stopping by!!!

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