Bird, Nest, Eggs
Orioles sing from the treetops in our yard, their melodic whistles descending from high in the cottonwoods. They have likely woven their intricate hanging nest up there. Hidden by greenery, we are not likely to ever find it. But I like to imagine it, nonetheless. Orioles lay eggs with beautifully scrolled markings and after hatching the young remain nestled inside the pendulous nest for about two weeks. Altogether, bird, nest, and eggs are striking. They made a perfect subject for a recent art class at Winslow Art Center and I like having this page to commemorate their unseen presence.
Thanks to Mary McAvoy Photography for use of her nest photo.
Tips and Techniques– An oriole’s nest is a complex tangle of fine woven fibers. It’s important not to get lost in all the detail when painting it. I start with the basic shape and pay attention to lights and darks to give the nest form and dimension. Texture comes from both the ink drawing and later stages of the watercolor. I have another Bird, Nest, Eggs class coming up in July, focused on the Eastern Phoebe, another bird with a lovely nest. Registration is open.
I’ll be taking a break from this blog over the next two weeks as I take off for an exciting trip to Iceland. See you with a map filled in when I return.
Drawn In 
Have a wonderful trip with a journal full of memories!
I plan to! Thanks!
Love how you rendered he nest with just enough and not too much information! Have a great trip. looking forward to see the treasures you found in Iceland.
Thanks! This was a fun nest to do. I look forward to sharing my journey here in a few weeks.
Orioles are lovely, and you do them just ice here. Have fun in Iceland! We will be there for a few days as part of a trip this fal.
Great! I’m looking forward to seeing a completely different landscape.
I am, too – and seeing your paintings!
Beautiful writing and drawing. Have a great Iceland adventure! ❤️
Thanks Darienne! We are excited for the trip!
Oh Jean, your Baltimore Oriole journal page is so beautifully done, and I love how you handled the information pieces about the Bird, Eggs and Next. You inspire me so much! Have an incredible adventure in Iceland. Can’t wait to see your map filled in with all that you observe and experience.
I am looking forward to filling that map and many more pages in Iceland. Thanks for your support! Much appreciated!
Hi Jean, Your oriole nest is amazing! Have a great time in Iceland! Looking forward to hearing all about it, it’s on our list! Take care, Dory
Hope you are doing well, Dory! I’m eager for the adventure to begin!
Can’t wait to see what you bring back from Iceland.
Me too, Laura. I’ve been thinking about some of the things I’d like to sketch there– landscapes, people, fish, food, language. We shall see…!
Have a blast! It is such a beautiful country. Their horses are unique to Iceland,mir I remember correctly.
Thanks Nan. Hopefully you’ll recognize some things in my post-trip sketches.
Jean, have a wonderful time in Iceland! We visited in 2019. I love how you added “Iceland” in Runic characters to the title of your map. Wishing you lots of great sightings of puffins, gannets, and other wildlife.
Can’t wait! I’m looking forward to sea birds and big landscapes. Gannets would be excellent!
Safe, joyful travels! I can’t wait to see the finished map!
Thanks…me too!
Oh wow wow wow! Iceland! How excited you must be to get that map all full up! Can’t wait to see what you discover. We’ve always talked about going to Iceland. Your impressions of this island nation will be most welcome. And another WOW! The Baltimore oriole, nest and eggs are splendiferous, Jean. We get Scott’s orioles here, and I remember my first ever encounter. Did a double take, then journaled away! They are gorgeous birds. Would now love to see a nest with beautifully scrolled eggs. Wonder if the Scott’s eggs look similar? Hmmmmmm?
Have a magnificent time in Iceland.
I’ll have to look up Scott’s orioles. I think they have a fairly limited range in the US. I bet their nests are similar.
😊
This is a lovely rendering of nest, eggs and Baltimore oriole. I have seen them many years ago here in Montreal, Quebec Canada. Since then too much construction has taken over their breeding grounds. Very sad. Wishing you a lovely trip to Iceland. Many wonders awaits you.
Thank you Carole. I was recently in Montreal and was surprised by all the construction. I suppose you’d have to visit more rural areas or riversides to find them. Thanks for your well wishes.
We have a Phoebe nest outside our door and I look forward to seeing your drawings. I’ll be back in the Adirondacks this summer and working at the ADKX Museum. Through your blog, I am motivated to head over and explore the Pember Museum this season, with my sketchbook.
Hi Dorothea- Enjoy your time in the Adirondacks– and do take a trip to the Pember if you can. It’s perfect for a rainy day, but check the hours. I’m not sure what they are for summer.
Lucky you, orioles singing in the yard! We do have Black-headed grosbeaks singing here and they’re wonderful. You know I miss my old eastern bird friends so it’s fun to see this post…and you’re in Iceland! We’re going there in two months. I can’t wait to hear about your trip and impressions. Safe travels and have a wonderful time! (Did you pack some nice blues for that glacier ice on the south coast?)
Space in my paint box is at a premium. I did swap out Permanent scarlet for Indigo for dark cliffs and icy waters. I really want to take turquoise, but will have to swap one of my yellows for it. Hmmm…probably worth doing. How fun that you are headed there, too!
Yes, we can compare notes. Even though I’m not a watercolorist it’s really fun to hear about which colors you’re taking. Well, it IS kind of a limited palette place, right? 😉 We keep talking about space, too – we’ll only take our carry-ons, we need layers for the weather, camera, iPad, binocs, hiking boots, etc. We’ll be there 19 days and plan to drive the Ring Road. Rather ambitious but as long as we’re going, let’s do it. When do you leave?
Bags are packed…ready to fly!
Looking forward to seeing some of the flora and fauna of Iceland, Jean. Bon Voyage!
Me too, Peggy! Thanks!
Enjoy your trip.
I could look at these all day! So much more to them than to most, but not all, photographs. Great work!
Thanks Lisa!