Beeper, the beautiful moustache parakeet, posing in the sunlight for the perfect portrait. 9x12" watercolor on paper. Signed JBray.
Tag: small format
Ziggy
My girl, my feathered child, my lifelong companion, my Ziggy. She's 19 years of sassy vocabulary and smartaleck humor, of nuzzles and preening feathers, of learning to go with the flow and self-soothe without feather destruction. She's an African Grey parrot, and she's going to be with me till I die, because she will probably… Continue reading Ziggy
Dennis
Dennis was the beloved husband of my client. By all accounts, he was a remarkable man. Loving, loyal, and possessing of a green thumb that brought flowers and joy to his wife's days. She commissioned me to make a portrait of her husband that would reflect these qualities. Her joy was so great it brought… Continue reading Dennis
Coneflowers on the Parkway
I am incredibly blessed to live within a couple of miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway as it passes through Asheville, North Carolina. Up here, the mountains provide some breathtaking vistas, and the parkway provides access to some choice locations to sit and ponder. It is a spiritual, calming experience for me. In parts, the… Continue reading Coneflowers on the Parkway
Songbirds
Songbirds - a grouping of four small-format acrylic paintings This small grouping of four songbirds (clockwise from top left: Carolina Wren, titmouse, black-capped chickadee and white-breasted nuthatch) was inspired by the new spring in a part of town that has a lot of beautiful songbirds singing. I find them incredibly animated, full of life and… Continue reading Songbirds
Forgotten Chores: 17 years of practice
The above painting is the very first realistic-style acrylic painting I ever did. Now, don't misunderstand. I did not magically know how to paint. This is from a lesson in a book, and I'd done some drawing and painting before, but the painting was more cartoon-style, and the drawing was just in pencil. However, when… Continue reading Forgotten Chores: 17 years of practice
Blue and Gold Macaw
I love parrots. They are incredibly complex, emotional creatures, and they have a powerful weapon right on their face. They fit into our lives, learning our language, understanding our non-verbal cues better than we do ourselves. It is all in the eyes. There are thoughts forming and connections developing every second. I can just imagine… Continue reading Blue and Gold Macaw
Black Palm Cockatoo
My "Showoffs" series of four paintings featured cockatoos with outrageous crests. This one is the Black Palm cockatoo, a huge creature whose bright red cheek patches -- bare skin -- make them one of the most distinctively beautiful species of parrots. They are very intelligent, as with most parrot species, using tools as musical instruments… Continue reading Black Palm Cockatoo
Umbrella in the Wind
Umbrella cockatoos. They're loud. Bite hard. Temperamental. Destructive. But oh, my heart. When they are sweet, they are sweet. They woo you with their soft clucks and beguiling eyes. They draw you in with emotional touches, burying their faces in your shoulder. Their feathers feel like fluffy silk, and they invite you to touch the… Continue reading Umbrella in the Wind
Pacific Parrotlets in Love
I've always been fascinated by parrotlets. Tiny little bundles of energy and fierce attitudes, they are devoted to their mate. And when they snuggle together, tucking their heads behind their wings, they form the shape of a heart. These two - mutations in green and blue - are done in digital pastels. This means it… Continue reading Pacific Parrotlets in Love
