"Young Gold finch Study" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on board, detail of a large commissioned painting in progress.
I have been busy with many projects, a large commission of a bird and sunflower painting, among others.
This detail shows one of the juvenile Gold finches, the colors in his plumage not quite developed enough to tell if it is a male or female.
To view more of my paintings, please check my web site or my painting blog.

"Gold Finch Study" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on Gessobord, 8" x 8", $175.-
A small Gold Finch painting in preparation for a larger commissioned piece.
I took the reference photo for this painting last August in our Sunflower patch. The Gold Finches visit every August in large flocks to feast and to teach their young ones how to pick the seeds while perching on top of the large flowers. It is quite a spectacle.
To view more of my paintings, please click here for my web site, or here for my painting blog.

"Steller's Jay #2" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on Gessobord, 10" x 8", $ 275.-
Another bird painting for the upcoming "Solstice Holiday Show" at the Boulder Public Library, opening next weekend at the Canyon Gallery. Thank you again to Cal and Cheryl Whitehall for the beautiful reference photo.
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.

"Steller's Jay" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on Gessobord, 7" x 5", $ 150.-
I have had fun painting birds and flowers this past week in preparation for 2 upcoming shows. Thank you to my friends Cal and Cheryl Whitehall for letting me use the photograph of this beautiful bird!
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.

"Chickadee and Quince" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on archival board, 6" x 6", $125.-
I painted this little chickadee this weekend while working at our gallery, the Art Center of Estes Park. It is always fun to work on a small painting while staffing the gallery. Patrons love to see art in progress, and to learn about the process.
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.

Chipping Sparrow by Ann Hoffpauir

© Ann Hoffpauir

I had to look up this little bird to know what kind it was. When I first noticed it, I thought it was just another house sparrow. As I worked in my yard though, it didn't fly away as readily as house sparrows do. I thought

"what the heck is wrong with this bird, is it sick, old or something"? The more I observed this bird I realized not only it wasn't a house sparrow, because it's character was somewhat timid, sweet and social. Later I had refilled a bird feeder and left it on my back porch for a few days. Well, the birds found it and they were probably thinking "the dang bird lady is never gonna hang the feeder up, so lets eat here ya"ll"! So...unnoticed to the birds, I took their picture from inside the window that was only about six feet from that feeder.

I had several different species of birds visit that feeder while it was on the porch. A lot of good close up photos too!

This painting is size 7x5 oil on canvas panel. It is available for $75.00. Thank you for viewing.

Female Cardinal by Ann Hoffpauir

Cardinals are visitors to my yard all year round. There are several bird feeders placed where I can get a good view of the many types of birds that come to feed at them. The cardinal is the most frequent visitior. They are not shy birds. They only fly a few feet away when I come to get the feeder to refill it.

A few years ago after I had refilled a feeder, I went back to my porch and stood and watched the birds come back to feed. There was a male cardinal on the feeder and he would take his beak and push the seeds out over the side. I thought "well dang, no wonder the seeds are going so fast". As I watched though, there were more cardinals and other birds on the ground under the feeder. They looked like adult birds. I realized after awhile, they were immature birds and the male was encouraging them to eat the seeds. These young birds would try to fly up and land on the feeder. I suppose that ledge on the feeder looked like a scary precipice to land on for those young birds. It took awhile but they did it.

This painting is size 7x5 oil on canvas panel. The price is $75.00. Thank you for viewing.

© Ann Hoffpauir

http://www.ArtworkbyAnn.com

"Young Goldfinch" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on archival board, 7" x 5", $125.-
One of the juvenile Goldfinches that are visiting our yard with their parents to feast on the sunflowers. I love to watch the fun as the little Goldfinches learn to balance on the flowers and feed themselves. I am fascinated with the delicate colors of their plumage, sometimes having to guess if they are male or female.
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.

"Chickadee with Cherryblossoms" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on archival board, 6"x 6", $125.-
Last week was bird week at my studio! I do love these amazing creatures. I admire their beauty, grace and resilience!
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.

"American Goldfinch" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on archival board, 7" x 5", $125.-
The Goldfinches have returned to our yard for their annual feast on our red sunflowers.
I was lucky enough to get a photo of this little guy yesterday morning, and had to paint him right away. I do enjoy watching these beautiful birds as they perform their acrobatics, swaying on top of the heavy sunflower blossoms to extract the seeds. It takes the young goldfinches a few days to learn this skill, under loud protest, since it is so much easier to be fed by their parents.
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.

Bluebird Pair by Ann Hoffpauir

These pair of bluebirds has been in my yard and pasture all spring and summer. I have several bluebird houses around our place. In spring the male bluebird goes from house to house, checks it out, sings a little, and then flies to a nearby limb or twig. Then the male will sing soft notes and waits patiently while the little lady bluebird checks out the house. This checking out the houses usually takes a couple of days. That's us women alright. Sometimes it takes awhile for us to make up our minds. Once she decides on a birdhouse both bluebirds start to build the nest inside it. What a good male he is. He not only helps build the nest, he also brings the female food while she incubates the eggs. After the eggs are hatched, both parents bring food to feed the young hatchlings. Both the male and female coax the young to fledge (leave) the nest. All this takes about 18-21 days. Bluebirds often nest and raise a brood 2-3 time in a normal season.

In the spring on our property I have in my yard the three primary colors of God's creation. There is the cardinal, American goldfinch and the bluebird. How wonderful is that!

This painting is being sent to the Texas Bluebird Society for their silent auction. The auction is being held on August 20th. It is size 9x12 oil on canvas panel. For more information about the auction please contact the Texas Bluebird Society.

Thank you for viewing my art.

© Ann Hoffpauir
http://www.ArtworkbyAnn.com

"House Finch" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on archival board, 7" x 5", $95.-
This little guy was sitting in our Ash tree last week. One of many finches that inhabit our yard. The young finches have left their nests and are learning (under loud protest, directed at their tired parents) to feed themselves. The first Goldfinches are arriving also, to feast on the Sunflowers.
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.

Ann Hoffpauir, Edge of the Water

This painting was done at a friends home. He lives on the bayou and a scene like this is an everyday occurance. What a wonderful way to wake up in the morning and walk out onto the porch with a cup of coffee and enjoy the wildlife and all the things God has created. Evenings are pretty great too..........

© Ann Hoffpauir

"Out on a Limb 1 and 2" by Astrid Paustian

Watercolor, 12" x 9", $225.-

Oil on canvas panel, 12" x 9", $325.-
My friend Tom Weeks, gifted photographer from Boulder, Colorado, generously allowed me to paint his new owl photo, taken last week. This young owl hatched in late March, and is looking out into the new world.
I tried both, an oil and a watercolor version, these past 2 days, fascinated by the expressive face in a "bundle of fluff".
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.

"Woodpecker and Sunflower" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on canvas, 10" x 8", $325.-
Goldfinches were not the only birds who enjoyed the Sunflowers in our yard last August.
Chickadees, Sparrows, House Finches, and the resident pair of Downy Woodpeckers also joined in the feast.
I did take some liberties with the background colors as you have noticed.
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.

"Goldfinch and Sunflower" by Astrid Paustian

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 8" x 8", $275.-
Painting continues around the 2" deep edges.
We had a large flock of Goldfinches in our yard late last summer. The birds were feasting on the sunflowers that came up in the garden and the adults were teaching the young finches how to extract the seeds while swaying on top of the large flowers.
It was a wonderful opportunity to watch and photograph these colorful birds.
To view more of my paintings, please visit my web site or my painting blog.