Tuesday morning I had a dentist appointment and upon my return home I found a baby Robin parked on my front porch. He was obviously missing his parents and called out to them every few seconds, but they were nowhere to be seen.
Then the chipmunk, who normally torments my cat, Morgan, at the patio door, came whipping around the corner of the house, stopped, sniffed the chick and went on his way to the studio... to critique the artwork, and then to over to my neighbour who feeds all the chippies! Oh what a complex community this is... I should write a book!
So, the young Robin left the porch and settled into the grass, still calling, and I went inside. I could still hear him calling and after a while went outside to check on him. He seemed fine but I was concerned: had he been orphaned, abandoned, or lost? I just didn't know what to do about him, and since he was on my front lawn I felt responsible for him.
Then I remembered the Wild Bird Care Centre out on Moodie Drive in the city's west end. I called them and talked to a very knowledgeable young lady who told me that young Robins leave the nest about a week before they can fly. They live on the ground and in the bushes, with their parents close enough at hand to watch over them, but far enough away to teach them independence... an internship, so to speak. She said that as long as he was alert and active that I should do nothing. If he becomes lethargic, unresponsive or very uncoordinated then I should bring him to them and they would care for him.
While I was on the phone with the young lady, an adult Robin arrived and was digging for worms or bugs on the other side of the road. This was not missed by young master Robin who began heading across the road in such a fury that he kept falling on his face. With an apparent resolution inevitable I went back to work in my office.
A while later I had to go to the Post Office and was looking to see if I could see the chick before backing my car out of the driveway. My neighbour, the one that feeds all the chippies, was out so I told him about the baby Robin. While we were talking we noticed an adult Robin landing on the curling club lawn across the road, and then we could see the chick being fed by the adult.
So all's well that ends well... and I didn't have to drive to the other side of Ottawa to deliver young master Robin to the Wild Bird Care Centre.
Summer art classes
The Acrylic and Oil class at NECTAR (255 MacKay Street in Ottawa) is running this summer from July 9 to August 27, and drop-in students are welcome to attend. The drop-in fee is $20 per class and is open to all media and styles of art. Bring your art, your materials, tools and your questions or concerns about what you are working on. I will help you resolve your issues and move to the next level.
Today's Painting Tip: Painting Red
Red is an interesting colour to work with. If you lighten it with white it becomes pink, but what if you really wanted a light red instead? Alternately, if you wanted to darken red would you add black and end up with a muddy red rather than a rich dark red?
Here's a couple of tricks to try:
Lighten a red by adding white and also some orange to counteract the pink effect.
When darkening red use it's compliment, green, and add a bit of purple to give it some life.
Try it by painting the red ball below, and let me know if it helps... or let me know what your favourite red mixes are.
Then the chipmunk, who normally torments my cat, Morgan, at the patio door, came whipping around the corner of the house, stopped, sniffed the chick and went on his way to the studio... to critique the artwork, and then to over to my neighbour who feeds all the chippies! Oh what a complex community this is... I should write a book!
So, the young Robin left the porch and settled into the grass, still calling, and I went inside. I could still hear him calling and after a while went outside to check on him. He seemed fine but I was concerned: had he been orphaned, abandoned, or lost? I just didn't know what to do about him, and since he was on my front lawn I felt responsible for him.
Then I remembered the Wild Bird Care Centre out on Moodie Drive in the city's west end. I called them and talked to a very knowledgeable young lady who told me that young Robins leave the nest about a week before they can fly. They live on the ground and in the bushes, with their parents close enough at hand to watch over them, but far enough away to teach them independence... an internship, so to speak. She said that as long as he was alert and active that I should do nothing. If he becomes lethargic, unresponsive or very uncoordinated then I should bring him to them and they would care for him.
While I was on the phone with the young lady, an adult Robin arrived and was digging for worms or bugs on the other side of the road. This was not missed by young master Robin who began heading across the road in such a fury that he kept falling on his face. With an apparent resolution inevitable I went back to work in my office.
A while later I had to go to the Post Office and was looking to see if I could see the chick before backing my car out of the driveway. My neighbour, the one that feeds all the chippies, was out so I told him about the baby Robin. While we were talking we noticed an adult Robin landing on the curling club lawn across the road, and then we could see the chick being fed by the adult.
So all's well that ends well... and I didn't have to drive to the other side of Ottawa to deliver young master Robin to the Wild Bird Care Centre.
Summer art classes
The Acrylic and Oil class at NECTAR (255 MacKay Street in Ottawa) is running this summer from July 9 to August 27, and drop-in students are welcome to attend. The drop-in fee is $20 per class and is open to all media and styles of art. Bring your art, your materials, tools and your questions or concerns about what you are working on. I will help you resolve your issues and move to the next level.
Today's Painting Tip: Painting Red
Red is an interesting colour to work with. If you lighten it with white it becomes pink, but what if you really wanted a light red instead? Alternately, if you wanted to darken red would you add black and end up with a muddy red rather than a rich dark red?
Here's a couple of tricks to try:
Lighten a red by adding white and also some orange to counteract the pink effect.
When darkening red use it's compliment, green, and add a bit of purple to give it some life.
Try it by painting the red ball below, and let me know if it helps... or let me know what your favourite red mixes are.
Next Painting
After bringing you up to date on the painting I put on Face book as it progressed, I have taken the lessons learned from the painting of Jane's Photograph, and applied them to the first piece. Initially I found the painting rather bland, not much definition and while it did reflect what I wanted to show you, it was not pleasing to me. I have added some clouds to the sky, over the sun; more sun; and some ripples in the water. Here is the result, with which I am much happier.
Next week a new painting begins!
Best wishes,
Susan
After bringing you up to date on the painting I put on Face book as it progressed, I have taken the lessons learned from the painting of Jane's Photograph, and applied them to the first piece. Initially I found the painting rather bland, not much definition and while it did reflect what I wanted to show you, it was not pleasing to me. I have added some clouds to the sky, over the sun; more sun; and some ripples in the water. Here is the result, with which I am much happier.
Next week a new painting begins!
Best wishes,
Susan
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