Fruitful Habitat - Robin's Nest in Grapevines

The Story

My neighbors and I were having a nice visit 'over the fence' talking about birds. They invited me over to see their grapevines with a fun surprise... a bird's nest. The bird and eggs were long gone and the fruit still green so early in the year, but it was wonderful to see for inspiration. I designed and painted this watercolor in my studio. I took several photos of the scene and decided to recreate it as a Robin's nest with little blue eggs and luscious ripe grapes on the vine. Calling it "Fruitful Habitat" I thought was very fitting and sets just the right tone for the overall nature scene.

Technique

I did a carefully planned composition in pencil since I didn't really have an exact photo of the scene, just of a few key elements. The deep black shadows were a must, so I began by filling those in with India ink to give it a rich and vibrant depth. Many transparent watercolor washes were added to give the colors a glow and a final touch of white highlights to give a little sparkle.

Additional Notes

Purchase unframed (includes mat) or framed by the artist in a pre-purchased mat and frame with glass. Frame is a faux finish bronze and goes nicely with the colors in the nest.

UPDATE: August 2020 IAL Gallery Show

WooHoo!!! This took 2nd Place in the Professional / Under Glass division.