Sunday, July 19, 2009

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah...


Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, 6" x 4"

My friend Diahn is promoting her soon-to-be-open Etsy shop with a number of give-aways. This week, she's featuring a charming bluebird. When I saw that delightful little bird, it inspired me to get out the salt shakers and see what I could do. This oh-so-precious bluebird looks like it owes its existence to Walt Disney's Song of the South, with its signature song -- OK, now EVERYbody sing...

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my what a wonderful day!
Plenty of sunshine heading my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Mister Bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Ev'rything is satisfactual
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!
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22 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 19, 2009 at 7:39 PM

    :applause:

    MARVELOUS!! I love it, Chris!! So glad I could inspire such loveliness!

    :standing O:

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  2. Chris BeckJuly 19, 2009 at 7:52 PM

    :bow:

    Thanks!! Glad you like it!! I had lots of fun with it!!

    :bow again:

    :bow once more:

    :exit stage right:

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  3. Connie Williams, California, USAJuly 19, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    That's the cutest little bluebird ever! What a nice way to encourage your friend's new business venture.

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  4. Chris BeckJuly 19, 2009 at 9:25 PM

    I do love cute salt shakers!! I enjoyed painting this little gal.

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  5. Jeanette JobsonJuly 20, 2009 at 4:10 AM

    This is just perfect. Glorious colours and a whimsical little face to make me smile.

    The song will be stuck in my head all day now! :)

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  6. RH CarpenterJuly 20, 2009 at 5:25 AM

    LOVE IT!!! Those blushing cheeks are wonderful. Just catching up on blogs and had to visit your new little birdie first.

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  7. caseytoussaintJuly 20, 2009 at 6:03 AM

    I love this - I'm so glad Diahn linked to your blog, your work is incredible.

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  8. Ricky HoltmanJuly 20, 2009 at 6:23 AM

    Bluebirds are my favorite and they always take to the song by Judy Garland...Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Great art Chris, what a gift. God bless..Ricky

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  9. Sandy MaudlinJuly 20, 2009 at 6:26 AM

    Thanks for a great dose of morning joy! Beautiful watercolor, too!

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  10. belindadelpesco.comJuly 20, 2009 at 7:58 AM

    Oh, this is so perfectly painted, and has such a wonderfully cheery palette... it's *beautiful*. Thanks for kicking off my Monday with your good work.:)

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  11. Chris BeckJuly 20, 2009 at 8:55 AM

    Thanks, Jeanette! If it's any consolation, the song has been stuck in my head since I posted this!!

    Yup, this is one cheeky little bird, Rhonda! Glad you like it.

    Thanks for the compliments, Casey! Glad you enjoy my work.

    Thanks for leaving a comment, Ricky! "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is such a great song - one of my favorite versions is by Eva Cassidy.

    Glad you enjoyed it, Sandy and Belinda! I'm pleased I could start Monday off on a joyful note for both of you!!

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  12. r garriottJuly 20, 2009 at 11:29 AM

    Too darn cute. Love it!

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  13. AngelaJuly 20, 2009 at 12:29 PM

    This is so adorable! I love the close crop and the colors!

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  14. Chris BeckJuly 20, 2009 at 12:32 PM

    Hey, R -- Glad you like it!!

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  15. debwardartJuly 20, 2009 at 12:51 PM

    Just darling, Chris! I had the opportunity to see one of your originals last week when I visited Rhonda Carpenter - it was amazing, and so tiny! You really do some awesome work.
    We do have "plenty of sunshine" today here in Indiana - and now, thanks(?) to you, I'll be singing that (darn) song inside my head the rest of the day!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Chris BeckJuly 20, 2009 at 2:33 PM

    Thanks, Angela!

    Deb, I do larger work too, but I definitely enjoy making small paintings!! I can see I'll have to find a hideout if I ever post a catchy song again!! ;-D As I told Jeanette, it's been stuck in my head too, since I posted last night.

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  17. April JarockaJuly 21, 2009 at 6:38 AM

    Lovely painting Chris!

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  18. Chris BeckJuly 21, 2009 at 8:38 AM

    Thanks, April.

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  19. r garriottJuly 21, 2009 at 11:33 AM

    Had to come and look again... how do you get these outrageously vibrant colors????

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  20. Chris BeckJuly 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM

    Well, R, I discovered quite by chance that the paper I use has a lot to do with the brilliance of the finished image. I've done most of these little paintings in the past year on Winsor-Newton paper, but one was on Lanaquarelle. To my great surprise, the painting on the Lana was very muted in comparison to the others. So there must be something about the reflectivity of the W-N paper that helps. But I also use mostly transparent paints -- the only colors that are even semi-opaque are the ultramarine blue used in the shadows and cobalt violet, which I mixed with the ultramarine for the background. (Unfortunately, the violet doesn't scan well, so the background is bluer in the posted image than in reality.) And I also do multiple washes to boost intensity if need be.

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  21. Don CokerJuly 28, 2009 at 10:12 PM

    Chris, I love the playful color quality in this piece. Wonderful stuff!

    www.doncokerart.com/blog

    ReplyDelete
  22. Chris BeckJuly 28, 2009 at 11:10 PM

    Thanks, Don!! I'm pleased that you like my work and appreciate your taking the time to comment.

    ReplyDelete

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