It’s been an exceptionally wet summer here in the middle of America. Lots of rain means lots of puddles which means lots of mosquitos which means there is food aplenty for critters that enjoy a mosquito meal. One of those mosquito-eating critters is the lovely Barn Swallow. Sadly, these birds don’t live in my neighborhood, but they were plentiful at my rural childhood home. They nested in the rafters and under the eves of the barn and outbuildings. There was a family that returned year after year to nest above a window on our house. By summer’s end, my family shared the homestead with at least 30 swallows! Those warm August evening skies were filled with careening fork-tailed birds gorging on mosquitos and other flying insects. That memory inspired this illustration.
illustration
Summer Solstice, 2019 /
It’s officially the first day of summer!
Ink? Acrylic? Watercolor? Pencil?.. /
I’m exploring media options for the upcoming picture book, Because I’m New.
digital
ink & watercolor
ink & acrylic
pencil & watercolor
Autumn Leaves In Winter /
We’re currently buried beneath nine inches of snow at our house, but just a week ago I was raking leaves with some “help” from a friend. We’re both smiling in this illustration, but only one of us is having a good time!
Cherry Blossom Chickadees /
A spring-like pattern for National Bird Day!
Autumnal Equinox /
“Nuttin’ to see here, folks.” The squirrels in my neighborhood spend a good deal of time hiding/finding/moving acorns, but they’ve stepped it up a notch. Happy fall y’all! And happy spring to my Southern Hemisphere friends!
A Brief Visit /
Summer's Siren Song /
My neighborhood is packed with trees --large trees like oaks, maples, sycamores, and lindens. This time of year, the trees are filled with several varieties of cicadas. The male cicadas sing to attract a mate, and as the days shorten, the insects seem desperate. The sound reaches jet engine decibels. It can be... well, annoying. That said, I associate the cicada song with summer, and when the cacophonous buzzing fades, I can't help but be a little sad.