Early Posts

Raven at Play by rusalka

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:03:59 -0000

There are some terrific stories about Raven. I'm rather fond of the one in which he impersonates a selfish chief's grandson in order to steal the sun, moon, and stars -- just to release them to the world. He's a bit like Robinhood, or some other such socialist. :)

Medium: pencil sketch, colored in photoshop
Tags: bird Raven photoshop stars illustration myth story

Winged Dancer by rusalka

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:06:39 -0000

Having been inspired by Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, and leaning on many tips in Ursula Vernon's Scribble Tutorial, this figure emerged.

Medium: watercolor, watercolor pencil, brush pen
Tags: Raven wing dancer scribble

Roost of the Pygmy Nuthatch by rusalka

Tue, 01 May 2007 06:52:00 -0000

Says the site All About Birds: "No records exist of Pygmy Nuthatches roosting alone. They always huddle in a group, sometimes with more than 100 in a single cavity." Not only are they gloriously cute and perky, the parents also have helpers who care for the current offspring (widely thought to be the offspring from previous years). They've got to be some of the neatest birds I've ever seen.

Medium: Pitt brush pen, watercolor
Tags: cartoon bird tree pygmy nuthatch roost

Spring Fever by rusalka

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:29:15 -0000

A winged wolf, painted in watercolors. I used masking frisket to cover up the wolf area while working on the background. This piece may get some serious reworking.

Medium: watercolor
Tags: wolf watercolor winged

Warning Barks by rusalka

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:00:00 -0000

If you've ever stumbled upon a squirrel at a park, you know that squirrels have no concept of "size" or "fair fight". This was a study in dappled light and a stylized animal. Image updated 24 April 2007. (Saturation adjusted and signed)

Medium: watercolor, colored pencil, brush pen
Tags: squirrel light dappled foliage

March Winds by rusalka

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:00:00 -0000

At many other times of the year, Rothan's pride took to napping away the sunlit hours. The shade beneath a large Ranook tree filled with a tangle of legs and wings propped in the air, dowsing the elusive breeze. March, however, brought ocean winds from across the rolling western hills, carrying the tang of salt and electricity. It was then that the flyon mastery of currents became apparent. If one was patient, one might here an occasional whoop of joy.

Medium: watercolor, colored pencil
Tags: lion watercolor pencil sky winged flyon flion