These claws were made for walking - Amy

A quick pencil sketch - I am planning on exploring this further. What can I say? I like chicken derrieres!

Chicken in Paradise - Amy

Why did the chicken cross the road? That question has been asked for many years. In my world, she pauses, gazes and takes in her surroundings. This is Gertrude in her moment of solace, contemplation and appreciation - enjoying all that is before her and considering what is possible. (Knowing my Gertrude, she is also plotting what plant she could eat up). Perhaps she crosses the road to get a better view or more tasty things to eat? I love the possibilities!

Acrylic, resin sand on canvas

A chicken in every pot - Amy

I was inspired by Rachel's  "The Kitty Who Grows in the Pot by my Door" I had to clean the coop - it smelled vile. When we let them out, they first make a beeline to the base of our outdoor bird feeder and pick up any of the fallen gems. Then they go into the various pots in the garden. This pot one once had flowers in it, before the chickens trashed it. This is Henrietta - prime suspect in garden destruction. 

The Republicans are associated with promising everyone that their policies would put a "Chicken in every pot - a car in every garage." Sounds a bit socialist of them to me! Government actually providing a basic necessity to it's citizens?! How dare they! Get your own damn chicken and car! Funny that this was a slogan connected to Hoover and we all know what wonders he did to our financial system. I hate to admit that I agree with anything connected to Republican ideology, but on this one, I actually do. Albeit a chicken in every flowerpot (so that you can all enjoy the benefits of fresh eggs for years to come).

chick art - Amy

Gouache

This was how I wanted the oil to come out. These ladies just continue to provide my inspiration.

art chick - Amy

Oil painting - I did this yesterday but got home late and ran out of time and steam to upload.

Toil with Oil Chicken -Amy

I made a new years resolution to explore more painting mediums. The first choice seemed obvious - oil paint. I have been exclusively using acrylics and always felt these were the "bridesmaid" to the bride in the world of paints - luscious oils! Well, I got a starter kit of colors, linseed oil, turpentine and a few new brushes to get me going. How hard could this be?

Well, let's just say I have a lot to learn. My messy and impatient tendencies  were tested to its limits. I wanted to ditch this and the entire purchase of supplies when I overworked the colors to a gray mess. Didn't the oils just make themselves appear beautiful just because they are oils??! With having a stuffy nose and an inability to smell a darn thing, I didn't even get to enjoy the scent I remember so fondly from my high school art classrooms.

The "be kind to yourself" thoughts that I would surely say to others ran through my mind. Learning is a process. One step at a time. I will force myself, I mean openly attempt more oils this month.

chicken - 3 views - Amy

Here are some photos of my backyard gals. I have a bad cold today, so I could not summon up the energy to do much.

"The Gossip Girls" - Amy

Soft pastel on board. Okay - I admit it - I am crazy about my chickens! I just adore them and love watching them interact with one another. Chickens give us so much - their eggs (any day for my gals), their delicious flesh that serves as a baseline for many tastes and lets not forget all the idioms from our humble pullus! Hen pecked, pecking order, chickens coming home to roost, walking on egg shells, Flew the coop, Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Chicken Scratch (to decribe messy handwriting), like an old mother hen and Birds of a Feather flock together come to mind.

I recently got into pastels and I am digging them! This originally started on a smaller sheet of paper (9x12) but I discovered that I really like to work big! This one is about 14x22.

Meet the Chickens - Amy

Acrylic paint on canvas.

I was attempting to capture the lighting/grouping of portraiture from the Meet the Beatles LP cover (one of my favorite images). This is the first of what I anticipate to be many artistic tributes to my chickens.