Robins again

Robin

Robins are members of the thrush family.  You can see thrush-like spots on young robins, their shapes are similar to thrush's.  Robins have a way of holding their head high that is distinctive; they may be trying to hear worms this way.  Our robins have been around for at least two weeks, which makes their spring return quite early this year.

This is a small painting, mostly pigment and glue-water, charcoal, and graphite.  Last year's returned robin, quite similar in pose, is posted on the 31st of March, two weeks later!

charcoal in winter

Junco

Snowing by the tracks

sketch for "Snowing"

Charcoal is made from burning wood--charring it--until the wood is velvety soft-hard.  Juncos' heads and napes look charcoal-black.  And the branches they alight upon are charcoal, pre-fired!  So I tried this Junco drawing almost entirely with charcoal.  The winter snow sketch has charcoal under it, almost as a skeleton. (In the sketch you can see the skeletal structure.)  In my studio I have a large can of charcoal powder, but I do not use it much.  The charcoal sticks, though, I love to use.  Strong enough to be crayon-like and to evoke structures (of trees, of railroad yards and such); still, the sticks can stroke paper with that velvety sheen, slight shimmer.