Chickadee Carol

6.75x9.75 acrylic on board, another in my chickadee series.  The abstract background is seen in image below.

For abstract backgrounds, I am using a 5x7 mat and placing it here and there on a full sheet (22x30) acrylic abstract painting done several years ago.  Then after taping the mat to an interesting section, I copy the isolated design onto prepared acid free mat board, then decide what bird to place on it as the center of interest, a realistic subject on a randomly painted support.  This bottom image was taken with my iPhone and its colors are not as vivid as the scanned finished blackcapped chickadee version.  An easier way to do the subject would be to simply take a pair of scissors and cut out an interesting rectangle, then paint the bird on top.  But I did not want to destroy the original painting.
Images are COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.