Hike day at Devil’s Backbone Nature Area

Soooo thrilled that one of my favorite hobbies is still safe to do.. hiking!!

I had a great time doing about 4 miles through the woods and visiting waterfalls yesterday at the Devil’s Backbone nature area here in southern Tennessee. It was a pretty warm day and a truly wonderful way to feel peaceful and grounded in the midst of all the craziness right now.

I know a lot of us are struggling economically right now and it’s not about to get any easier, so even more important to make sure to take the time to enjoy whatever low cost and safe activities you can. I’ve been listening to about a million podcasts on the coronavirus myself, but I’m still trying to make time to break away and enjoy the simple things in life.

These waterfalls and their crystal clear pools look like they would be perfect to frolic in during the summer. The first one even has a ledge you can chill under the waterfall on!

What else are people doing to break up the monotony besides going out as usual? I’m on a tiny farm right now with plenty of art supplies… But also plenty of time. Leave me a comment on how you’re taking up your days.

3.16.2020

5 Things NOT to Say to Artists

…And how to make sure you’re not saying them!!

Hi-ya folks I sure did have fun making today’s vid for you! It’s a lil silly, but I’m sure my artist pals know exactly what I’m talking about and have gotten most if not all of these sayings tossed their way.

Feel free to share this vid in a sweetly passive, yet hopeful, step towards politely telling your friends and fam the 411 on how their "artist advice" can sometimes come off...

But if you’re the one who has accidentally made an art comment faux pas in the past… fear not! We artists are not here to hold grudges, we are here to learn and grow together! So we all good folks, and forever onward you’ll know just how to communicate your appreciation of our works all the more sensitively

Has anyone else ever said anything that seemed complimentary but kind of was not about your art? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

3.13.2020

3D Oil Painting Demo :: Orange Daggers

This latest 3D oil painting features plenty of my favorite plant life media: ferns! There are four different kinds in this work collected during my hikes in O'ahu and while strolling around the grounds at my Artist Residency at the Highlands Art League in Florida. In order to use plants in my work I first press and dry them for at least a month, and I'm always delighted when they keep their color for so long.

The 'orange' part of the 'Orange Daggers' is a certain type of bird of paradise flower that I saw abundantly on da 'aina, however this one that I photographed and painted I actually found on top of a yard waste refuse pile while I was on a morning run. I love the way their super solid petals cup up to form teeny ecosystems of collected rainwater and delicate insects when found in their natural environments.

Last but certainly not least, there is one beautiful and stately French preying mantis surveying the scene. And how do I know this particular preying mantis is French? Well because he unfortunately expired in my apartment while I was staying in Argenton-Chateau for an intensive figure painting atelier in 2015. This lil guy was collected three years before I even began creating my 3D paintings! I'm not sure what I was thinking at the time, I must have just known a perfect specimen such as this would play into my art one day.

Yes! This piece is available for purchase here

3.7.2020

Gold Leafing River Rocks

Strolling along the Buffalo River on crisp sunny days has been one of my favorite pastimes while at my artist residency in southern Tennessee. The water is inexplicably a bright icy blue green color that reminds me of crystal hot springs I’ve visited in Yellowstone and California and the banks and shallow bottom are completely composed of a variety of sedimentary rocks.

I’ve become especially drawn to this super smooth rich earth toned type. I can’t figure out what kind of stone it is specifically, but they are very smooth and dense and almost remind me of a cross between slate and obsidian.

I’ve spent a few walks collecting my favorite stones and have decided to celebrate this sparse yet pristine landscape by recreating some of the best views in gold leaf on these lovely smooth rocks. Each one is hand gilded and is one of a kind and will look fabulous in any crystal or stone collection, or even as a little accent in your fave planter!

$10 includes US shipping or grab 2 for $16 with the code TNGOLD

Pop over to my Shop here to snag a few gold leaf accents for your precious stone collection

Ask an Artist 3 :: Entering Art Contests + Ventilating for Oil Paint

You've got questions, and ya Birdie's got answers.. Enjoy this figure drawing demo while I answer two questions asked by my lovely YT viewers.

This original drawing along with many others are available for purchase in my shop.

Materials:

(Any purchases through my special links helps to support this channel - thank you!)

Prussian Blue Stablilo Carbothello

White Chalk Pencil

Pencil Extender

Kneaded Eraser

Map Eraser

Mono Zero Eraser

For more info on getting your own handmade-with-love toned (or white) paper sketchbook pop over here to be kept in the loop for my next sketchbook release.

If you've got a question for me, please feel free to leave it in the comments! I super appreciate my viewers reaching out to me:)

2.29.2020

Golden Glow Inspo

That feeling when you blend in fully with your environment…

Even though it’s been a little bit gray here in TN, I’m still making sure to spend some time outside every day and on one of my recent walks I came upon an entire forest of these golden glowing leaves. The way they were lightly fluttering in the wind I was half expecting a few silent dueling martial artists from ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ to start sailing above me whipping their cloaks about….

So happy that everywhere I go my fern friends find me:)

2.26.2020

Vanlife :: Bed Build + Early Campout Adventures

Vaughn the Adventure Van is really starting to shine! Today I'm sharing my minivan to camper bed build (plus a front seat desk) using components we already had around the house - so satisfying!!

Then I made a custom memory foam mattress and matching couch cushion for a serious snuggle factor of 10! I'll be adding some shelf units and hammock nets for storage when I go back to Florida in a few months but until then I'm feeling pretty content and organized either way.

So enjoy these early vanbuild stages and adventures through Florida and onto Tennessee!

2.22.2020

How to Draw a Portrait :: Front, Side , 3/4 View

Yaay!! The final piece of the 'Drawing Portraits Realistically' series is here for you friends, ‘Placing the Features Correctly on the Head.’

Whew it has been quite a ride and I hope you’ve learned a ton!

During a few of the weeks I was filming these tutorials for YouTube I was actually fortunate enough to teach this entire series as part of a ‘How to Draw Portraits from Photographs’ workshop in person to a small class. I asked the attendees for feedback and heard and saw great results.

I even got photos of two final portrait drawings from ladies who said they had never drawn portraits before. I’m so floored and excited to see such amazing results from my first time teaching this particular lesson!

And if you didn't catch the rest of the series grab a bowl of popcorn and your sketchbook and get comfy 'cause I'm 'bout to drop that knowledge bomb on ya!

How to Draw a Nose

How to Draw Lips

How to Draw Eyes

How to Draw Ears

2.14.2020

Sneaky Peek at Works in Progress

Now as you know folks, my works are a real time-consuming labor of love and with the whole ‘pouring resin’ ordeal I often complete a few base paintings in oil before building frames and creating the layers. What that can unfortunately mean though is that it can be months between me being able to post new finished works so today I just wanted to share two of my current works-in-progress today :)

I just finished up Kenna’s hand as well as the intricate shadow shapes cast over her chest. If you can tell the skin looks kind of weird around the shapes it’s because she is wearing a black lace top which I will be painting over the flesh tone once it is completely dry. I’ve also already painted some mushrooms on another piece of linen that will be 3D ensconced in the resin for a real cluster effect.

Plus she’s got a nose ring, glasses and rings on her fingers to add in too. I secretly love painting shiny metal!

I’m so happy with how this hand turned out with these crazy dagger-like shadows cascading down it. In a subsequent layer there will be a painted orange bird of Paradise flower being held which is casting those amazing shadows. I also finished my aerosol background using an actual fern leaf as a stencil and as a stamp. This piece will have many layers of real plant life within the ensuing clear acrylic resin layers as well as a few bug specimens I do believe.

So exciting to watch my crazy notions come to life!!

And if you like progress shots make sure you’re tuning into my Instagram posts + Stories @caleighbirdart because I’m constantly sharing peeks from behind my easel:)

2.12.2020

How to Make a Paint Brush Cleaner

I've got a super simple artist hack to help you make a cleaner for your paint brushes out of an old wire clothes hanger and a glass jar. I use mine in my transportable oil painting kit, so I have solvent in mine, but you can use them for really any kind of paint.

The art store wants to charge you $15-22 for a piece of war in a jar, but we're not going to play that game ;)

Happy twisting!

Materials

• wire clothes hanger

• glass jar

• pliers

• wire snips

• eye protection

PS. If you need to grab some oil painting thinner and you want to support lil Birdie's artistic journey, any purchase thru my special links helps my YouTube channel thrive. Thank you!

Gamsol: https://bit.ly/2H4VUTg

Odorless Mineral Spirits: https://bit.ly/2vhDrA1

2.7.2020