Quick note: Thanks to all those who have responded to my post below thus far. Your feedback has been immensely helpful and interesting, some true surprises! I will get back to everyone and will continue to collect your choices through the end of the month… and my first post for July will be the announcement of the 4 lucky birds…
Original post:
For some time now I have been unable to sketch or paint, I am experiencing “Artist’s Block”. Often, if I am facing obstacles in other areas of my life there are times when I just am unable to be creative… unable to sit at my drawing table or easel. It is best for me to recognize this until I work things through.
1.Unsent Letters
I have been contemplating creating a limited edition of prints of my work and I guess this might be the best time to tackle it. I’d love feedback from folks regarding which images to choose. I have several hundred bird images but I’ve selected 18 of my favorites and would welcome help from the blogging community in choosing which to make into prints.
In appreciation, I will send a thank you card of one of my birds to each participant (please message me with your address -email or snail mail- to receive a personal card from me.)
As always, thanks so much for your support and encouragement!!!
2. Side by Side As Crows
3. Inside Out
4. A Cormorant in New York Harbor
5. Je Suis Ici
6. Evermore
7. Untitled
8. Pretty Pink Feet
9. Indian House Crow
10. Looking Back in Blue
11. Butterfly Blue
12. Mockingbird Music
13. In Praise of Pigeons
14. Chickadee Peace
15. Love
16. Remembering the Blackbirds
17. Delicate Balance
18. Red Winged
Sketchjay 
I like them all, especially the one called Chickadee Peace.
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Thanks Skipp! This one is the favorite thus far!
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Chickadee Peace is my fave!
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Oh great-thank you! It has been the favorite!
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They are all awesome! I like Inside Out and Red Winged.
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Thanks so much for this, and for visiting. I hope you’ll visit again!
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Absolutely!
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Really great works… Well done! I hope to be helpful. My favorite artwork of your beautiful collection are:
7. Untitled
8. Pretty Pink Feet
10. Looking Back in Blue
17. Delicate Balance
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Thank you Eva, glad you like them – I appreciate your input! Pretty Pink Feet looks like a favorite at this point.
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I like 8, 11, 14 & 16. 🙂
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Thank you for this… It is so interesting to see the picks!
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2. Side by Side by Crows but love them all!
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Oh 4, read but do not comprehend…2, 6, 7, 10
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🙂 thanks again – I appreciate your taking the time to help me make the choices.
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It was a pleasure, hard to choose though 🙂
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🙂
Thanks so much for helping me choose!
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Thank you for helping!
This is actually one of my favorites. All the best!
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3, 4, 10 and 16 – I think these would make good prints. Artist’s block will pass, don’t even think about, just do other stuff and dont beat yrself up. Your pics are great 🙂
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Thanks – I am enjoying all of the picks!
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My four favorites are Chickadee Peace; Pretty Pink Feet; Je Suis Ici; and Unsent Letters
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Thank you Mike!
Chickadee Peace is the most chosen at this point – I think this group would work well together. All the best!
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Yes I have the same thing, when I have difficulty in the rest of my life, art does not work either. This will pass as Jo says. I love your artwork! My favourites are 6. 8.13, 14
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Thanks for the kind encouraging words… I appreciate your visiting my blog and helping with my selection process. All the best!
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You’re welcome. Good luck with the print series. I think your work is fantastic!
🙂
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8 and 11
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Thanks Carl for your input!!!
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5,6,12 and 17
Terry
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Thank you Terry!!!! I appreciate your choices!
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My favorites are Numbers 5, 6, 13, 14, 16, and 17.
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Thanks Jilanne for this!! All the best!
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6, 14, 16, 17. Nice.
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Thank you!!!!
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look – everybody likes different ones
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It is very interesting!
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I vote for 1,4,8,14!
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Thanks Andrea! All the best!
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1,2,5 and 6. No wonder you are having trouble. I love all your birds!
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You are so sweet – thanks for this!
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Thanks for liking my new post! You do beautiful work, and my favorites are #’s 3, 8, 11, and 18. I think the composition is fantastic and they’d look great as prints. 🙂
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Oh thanks for this!!!
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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These are all fantastic! I can see why you need some input to whittle them down even further. So here are my four votes:
3. Inside Out
10. Looking Back in Blue
14. Chickadee Peace
16. Remembering the Blackbirds
Hope you can get over your “block” soon. I just came out of a long one myself, so I know how it feels!
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I so appreciate your kind words,,,, thank you!
I am looking forward to getting back to work soon. All the best!
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1, 4, 16, 18 are my choices!
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Dear RT,
Thanks so much for sharing your favorites… I hope you like the final selection!
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I really liked red winged and pretty pink feet. Nice work!
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Thanks so much! I appreciate it!
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1. 16
2. 13
3. 5
4. 8
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Thank you!
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Beautiful work! My choices are: #1, #4, #5, #12, #13, #14, #15, and #17. By the way, thank you for visiting pendrifter. d:)
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Wow! Thanks so much! I appreciate your visiting too!
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Hi I vote for crow side by side and the chickadee peace Had to vote for my crows r
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Thank you! – So sorry I thought I replied to you already. I am a super big Crow and Magpie fan too! All the best!
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These are beautiful! I vote for 13, In Praise of Pigeons, as my favorite, though I like them all! Also 14, Chickadee Peace
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Thank you!
I appreciate your kind words.
All the best!
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1, 14, 16, 17
Lovely!
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Thanks so much!
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I like 1, 8, and 14 best. Different, but I think the contrast is good as well as the subject matter.
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Thanks so much – I hope you like the final grouping!
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I like Red Winged and Untitled. Both birds are beautifully done.
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Thank you so much, hope you’ll visit again!
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I like: 5,7,8,10 😉
10 is a butterfly. if this doesn’t work then i’d go for 13
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Thanks Loana! Very nice of you to stop by!
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6, 4, 8, and 9 get my votes. I love the bright yellow!
It is terrible that terms like “artist’s block” and “writer’s block” were ever invented. so artificial! without these concepts, we would write or not write, create or not create, with more acceptance of our condition. is there a silver lining? so often there is. . . .
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Hi Celia,
I appreciate your stopping by! It is very true what you say about these terrible terms… “artist’s block and writer’s block” acceptance is some times very tough. All the best!!!
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Same to you–I thought of you today as I saw a heron.
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That’s awesome, what a treat!
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1, 4, 6, 9, 14, 16 Are my faves and I think they would form a coherent collection. You style is really lovely.
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Thanks so much… who should I write the card to?
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I’d love to receive a card of your wonderful work. Here’s my email vampitup@live.co.uk drop me a line and I’ll give you my address.
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Thanks so much for this! I will send you a card – if you like you can send me your address and I will send it to you 🙂
henning.dawn@gmail.com
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I am partial to #8-Pretty Pink Feet for obvious reasons (littlepinkdove). The other three I like the best are #10-Looking Back in Blue, #13-In Praise of Pigeons and #16-Remembering the Blackbirds.
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Oh yes I understand, little pink dove! Thanks so much!
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I would pick 3, 7, 13 and 18. I hope you beat the block!
James Gardner Art
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Wow, Thank you!!!!
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pretty pink feet for me.
nice work!
greetings from Athens!
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Thanks so much! I really appreciate your stopping by and sharing your impressions. I love Athens, I was there last June as I have family there. I hope to be back soon. All the best, Dawn/ Αγυι
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Thanks you! Athens, I love your city and have family there and I was there last June. I saw my first Magpie in the Greek Agora.
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I think you should take 1, 3 and 16. A lot of them are great, but these are the most inspiring and visual breathtaking pieces.
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Thanks so much! I am so glad you like the work and I think you will be interested to learn the final selections… all the best!
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great sketches…but I like #7 and #14 the best….!
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It is so interesting how the selections are all a bit different. Thank you for this!
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1, 10, 16, 18 but all are lovely!
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Thanks again!
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Hard to choose, but I like “love”. Beautiful drawings!
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Thanks so much!!! This was a preliminary sketch for a final piece with the same name, which was commissioned as a wedding invitation.
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Pretty pink feet is my favorite, but they are all delightful!
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Thank you for this – I also like this one and enjoyed painting it, which is not always the case.
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I love them all! I especially like Remembering the Blackbirds – it is so whimsical and original 🙂
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Oh thanks so much for this. It is truly wonderful to receive your feedback.
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My favourite is ‘pretty pink feet’. I really like your work, especially how in ‘pretty pink feet’ there are lines if white in it, I also love the detail in the feet. I’m a sucker for illustration detail and watercolour though!
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Oh Thanks so much! Pretty Pink Feet is one of my favorites. Originally I left the body white in which case the feet were the prominent detail on the drawing – later I added the patterns. Thanks for this!
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If I had to choose (it’s very hard for me…)…mmm… I’d say 3, 10,14,16… but I also like 17!
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Thank you for taking the time to respond to my survey! It is awesome to learn of everyone’s favorites.
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These are all so lovely, but my top few are:
Chickadee Peace
Remembering the Blackbirds
Unsent Letters
Delicate Balance
Cormorants in New York Harbor
Evermore
Not necessarily in that order; these birds share particular grace, motion and color/mood that is striking. Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks so much for your sharing your choices and your kind words… Chickadee Peace has been a frontrunner for some time now!I appreciate your message.
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4, 8, 13 for me! And thanks for stopping and liking my blog about the Mourning Doves!
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Mourning doves are magnificent, a favorite of mine! Thanks for sharing your choices!
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14 is my favorite, Chickadee Peace. They are all good, but that one hits my fancy.
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your message. Thanks for this, I appreciate.
This was a surprise to me but it is the most chosen.
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What gorgeous birds. My top four (and it was hard to choose) are:
3. Inside Out – I’m a horsey person so it appealed to me
6. Evermore – I can’t put my finger on it, but this one grabs my attention hugely!
10. Looking Back in Blue – I love the design aspect of this one, how the patterns overlap the bird.
14 – Chickadee Peace – I notice this has been a favourite of everyone, but I love the colours and the glow effect of the birds body.
They’re all beautiful. I love how you have made ordinary garden birds look magical and extraordinary.
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This is so sweet – thank you… Evermore is one of a series of drawings I made with the Magpie in this pose – I really was drawn to the pose and enjoyed working on this piece. Thanks again. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts.
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Do you draw them from memory? I love how you capture the shapes and poses exactly right. Really wonderful.
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Hi Meg,
To answer your 2nd question, I paint typically from photos that I have taken or in some cases that others have taken. I am so delighted to be the recipient of many awesome photos sent to me by bloggers since I started this blog! Sometimes I start a drawing or painting and I take a break and go back to it weeks or months or years later. Once I realized this I started a W.I.P. file which is chock full of drawing and painting attempts that never got resolved. They are pretty bad most of them but I keep them and occasionally I look for inspiration or one teeny tiny detail to build on… Thanks for your support!
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3 is my absolute favourite:)
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Thanks so much for this – This is also one of my favorites and I often don’t like to look at my work much after I am done.
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2 or 7:
delicately powerful
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Wow, Thanks so much for this!
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I like Pretty pink feet as well! What a great idea to get some feedback for your work! Thanks for visiting my blog… 🙂
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Thank you too!!! Pretty Pink Feet is a favorite I’ve learned. The feedback and community has been so wonderful and unexpected.
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Like In Praise of Pigeon and Red-winged the best.
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Thanks so much! I apologize for the delay. In Praise of Pigeons is a very special painting for me I am so glad that you like it!
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1,3,5,8,13. I know that’s 5 but what the hell! 🙂
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Thanks so much for this! I appreciate your stopping by and all of your 5 choices! I hope you like the selection. All the best!
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I like 1,2,4,5. Thanks for stopping by!
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Great – Thank you! Do you like the final four selected?
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I especially like your crows/ravens. That’s probably because they hang out in my back yard. Re artist/writer block, check out a poetry blog, laurencamp@gmail.com/whichsilkshirt. Block and what to do about is a common topic there.
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Thank you so much for this. Actually Crows and Magpies are my favorites! It is so nice of you to share this poetry blog – I will definitely check it out!Thanks again!
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It seems I remember the same thing happening last year. Maybe, it’s not writers block, but only you need to give yourself a vacation every no and them?
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I think you are spot on Karen! Sometimes we just need to allow our selves a break from the routine. I will admit though, sometimes if it takes too long to get back into the
“creative place” it feels like it will never come back!
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Have you thought of submitting these to the USPS for a series of stamps? They would be wonderful!
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Hi Carol,
Well, I never thought about this before but am looking into it now. It seems to be a very lengthy process but you never know! Thank you for taking the time to look at my work and for the sweek suggestion.
All the best!
Dawn
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You are very clever! I think number 3 is very special.
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Thanks so much Julie,
I really like your blog. Hope you can stop by again! All the best!
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Your work is both unusual and beautiful. My choice is Je Suis Ici – so delicate and understated. Best of luck with your project; I hope the large response to this post inspires you!
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Hi Mary,
Thank you for this! Je Suis Ici is a very important image for me I am so glad you like it – I am very inspired and very encouraged by all of the support and great community I have found through sharing my art.
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Great collection! I can imagine a gallery dedicated to these (would make a great show)…so nice. I think I like #7 the best.
Patty
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Wow! Thanks so much Patty!
I would like to hang them all (more than 100) in one space at least once. I am open to suggestions as I look for resources that could accommodate the whole collection. All the best,
Dawn
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I’m an artist in Staten Island who also likes birds and uses them in my art. Good pictures.
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Just wonderful! I find birds an endless source of inspiration although I also paint other subjects! Thank you!
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6, 14, 16 & 17 get my vote. Love vibrant colour
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Hello Anne!
Thanks so much for sharing your favorites!
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7, 8, 14, 16
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Thank you so much!
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These are amazing! They remind me, in their patterns, colours and bird theme, of the portguese tiles.
xo Marez
http://cantcooksowhat.com
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Thank you Marez,
Interestingly, I often look to tiles and textiles when I paint for new patterns and inspiration when I paint.
All the best to you,
Dawn
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evermore and looking back in blue are really cool! Great job on all.
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Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing! I truly appreciate it!
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Love them all ….but! 1,4,6 and 16
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Thank you Michelle! Many echoed your choices… I appreciate your kind words.
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They’re all beautiful but my faves are 4,6,14 & 16.
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Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your feedback! I hope you are able to stop by again.
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Wonderful blog.
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Thanks so much! I appreciate your stopping by!
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My pleasure.
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Je suis ici love it!
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Thanks so much – I appreciate your stopping by!
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Gorgeous work 🙂
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