Frosty Flier finch

4.5x7.25 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper completed today. Red color is mostly restricted to head and upper chest, contrasting with cold gray-brown nape, back, and wings. Pale sides show distinct brown streaks, lacking red tones. Females lack bold face pattern and have more diffuse patterning overall.  We see these, often confused with purple finches, at the feeders in New Mexico.  I tried a new experiment for the icy snowy background first covering it with a wash of white gouache, letting dry, then painting in the positive brown branches.  When that dried, I went back over with another gouache glaze and finally splattering the white for snow.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Snowy Finch

9x12 ink on old ledger paper done today for a WetCanvas challenge in the Pen & Ink forum.  I used Sakura Micron 01/03 pens and left the background line work only, so as to focus on the snowy finch.  Look closely to see snow on his head and back.  Ref courtesy WC reference image library/AvengingManatee.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith