Perch
(10” x 8”, oil on canvas)

A female cardinal surveys her snow-covered domain—our back yard, that is.

Many thanks to all for your support over the past year. May all your days be merry and bright.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Sugar Snow
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

The snow does not seem to be bothering these two!

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Snow Bird
(8” x 8”, oil on canvas)

This lone Junco was caught in last week’s first snowfall. I don’t know who was more surprised that the first snow came and stayed the week, him or me.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

“Patience”
(10” x 8”, oil on canvas)

A few Juncos passed through last weekend, on their way to a more agreeable climate.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

 

Late Bloomers
(12” x 24”, oil on canvas)

Anyone familiar with my work will know that I do not do a lot of flower paintings, except for my annual geranium piece. These hardy blooms are always the last bits of color in our garden, and once they are gone I know the cold weather is just around the corner. I am always sorry to see them go.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

 

Do, Re, Mi (A Trio of Purple Finch)
(8” x 8” each, oil on canvas)

We were inundated with purple finches this summer. These beauties travel in packs, are highly sociable and eat a lot. And I do mean a lot!

While called purple they are actually red with a red or brown streaked belly. The most apt description I’ve come across is that they look as if they have been dipped in raspberry juice. Having just made jam, I say they are the colour of my stained fingers.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Sophie  2001-2016
(White charcoal on black card)

Things have been pretty quiet around the studio. Sophie, my constant companion of 15 years, left us a few weeks ago to join her buddies that have passed before her (especially Codie, her BFF).

There is a big hole in our home and in our hearts, but we know she is much better off now.

My husband and I will soon start haunting the local shelters, because our house is not a home without a dog. I know Sophie would approve.

For anyone in the Montreal area, I cannot speak highly enough of the folks at K911. They made a dreadful decision just that much easier.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Juncos on a Wire
(8” x 16”, oil on canvas)

Juncos travel in groups and appear to be quite social. It is not unusual to see large numbers gathered together, eating and chattering away.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Lonesome
(8” x 8”, oil on panel)

Juncos are typically ground feeders and this lone bird seemed to be checking out the bounty below the feeder created by some of the messier birds. (The House Finches have no manners what so ever!)

And yes, I am now working from photos I shot earlier in the season as our Juncos have finally left for the summer.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Out on a Limb
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

It’s the same pair of birds as last time, still deciding whether to stay or go. I do wish they’d stick around but I fear not.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Duo
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

Perhaps these two Juncos are discussing plans for their upcoming migration to points further north.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Jill
(8” x 8”, oil on canvas)

Jen
(8” x 8”, oil on canvas)

I had a few false starts painting juncos as they are mainly grey and white, albeit with a delicate pink beak. I found my telephoto lens was vital to studying this quick little bird and once armed with some decent reference photos, I was able to examine the subtle color variations in the white bellies and the hints of red and yellow in the grey plumage. These small flashes of bright color help to enliven the grey and convey the particular appeal of this charming bird.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Jack
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

A Chance of Flurries
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

Juncos bookend our winter. They appear for a few days with the first blast of cold, and reappear again when the warm air pushes out the cold. While their visits are brief, we so enjoy watching them flit about, flashing their white tail feathers.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Spring Snow
(8” x 8”, oil on canvas)

Late Afternoon Flurries
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

Birds sit stoically as snow falls around them, not complaining as I often do when winter seems endless and spring cannot arrive fast enough.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Kiss Me
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

It is rare for me to see a lone cardinal, more often than not they are cozied up to each other on a branch or wire like these two.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Three Sisters
(8” x 16”, oil on canvas)

Three’s Company
(8” x 16”, oil on canvas)

Given the noise level in and around our backyard, it’s not hard to believe that the birds are having conversations. They are certainly chattering about something; perhaps deciding which feeder is best, or which new male is the cutest.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Rock-a-Bye Birdie
(8” x 8”, oil on canvas)

Matriarch
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

Solitary birds perch comfortably after a mid-morning snack of sunflower seed. While my husband is kept quite busy refilling feeders, my dog is wishing she too could have food on demand.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Date Night
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

 

 

Mr. and Mrs.
(8” x 16”, oil on canvas)

These grey late winter days are always brightened by regular visits from our loyal pair of cardinals. The vivid colouring of both the male and female is a welcome contrast to our March tone-on-tone landscape.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Boris
(8” x 8”, oil on canvas)

 

 

 

Natasha
(8” x 8”, oil on canvas)

These two were puffed right up, keeping warm in the extreme cold of last week.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Sitting Pretty
(8” x 8”, oil on panel)

Young Miss
(8” x 8”, oil on panel)

Presenting two more female cardinals, both quite young and not yet fully-grown into their feathers.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Rest Stop
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

 

 

First Snow
(8” x 10”, oil on canvas)

We were very fortunate this summer to have a few cardinal families set up housekeeping in our backyard. We were witness to lots of babies learning to fly, proud puffed up Dads, and many exhausted Moms. While some birds have gone on to explore elsewhere, many have remained through the winter months to keep us entertained. While the bright red male cardinal is stunning, I find the more subtle colouring of the female a joy to paint.

I am presently working on a series of these fabulous birds and will be publishing them as I finish.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.