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Kelly Leahy Radding

Primary

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AuthorbyKLRFebruary 16, 20210

Writing Postcards to Nature Daily for a Year

group of postcards to nature

Dear Nature, In 2020 my art world and my travel world came to a screeching halt due to the pandemic. All of my workshops, exhibitions and art fairs got canceled. …

Read More About: Writing Postcards to Nature Daily for a Year

Posted in Bird Art, Botanical Art, Drawing, Inspiration, Works-in-progressTagged color studies, nature, postcards

AuthorbyKLRJanuary 1, 20207

Be Kinder, Be Bolder, Be Braver and…

Emmylou, the enigmatic cat

…don’t take any sh*t. I said goodbye to my beloved cat Emmylou yesterday, on the last day of 2019. Emmy was diagnosed with a very aggressive type of mouth cancer …

Read More About: Be Kinder, Be Bolder, Be Braver and…

Posted in Inspiration, Painting, Tales from TuckerWoods Farm

AuthorbyKLRJanuary 14, 20191

Winnie-the-Pooh, Part Too!

“So he sat down on the stone in the middle of the stream.” – A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh   Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends were pretty much my all-time favorite books as …

Read More About: Winnie-the-Pooh, Part Too!

Posted in Drawing, Inspiration, My Travels

AuthorbyKLRJanuary 7, 20193

Inspiration… My word for 2019

Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin,

Inspiration: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions. An artist seeks inspiration for their work both consciously and unconsciously.  We must nurture our creativity with our own …

Read More About: Inspiration… My word for 2019

Posted in Works-in-progress

AuthorbyKLRDecember 28, 20180

My Favorite Things

christmas, crayons, reeses, reeses miniatures, pad, tulip

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…” For starters, the Sound of Music is one of my all time favorite movies (I just watched it again last week.) My sisters, …

Read More About: My Favorite Things

Posted in Inspiration, My Travels

AuthorbyKLRDecember 21, 20181

Practice Makes Perfect

A daily drawing practice – something an artist should be able to do just like that (sound effect – snap of the fingers), right? Well, only partially right. Artists face …

Read More About: Practice Makes Perfect

Posted in Bird Art, Botanical Art, Inspiration, My Travels, Wildlife Art, Works-in-progress

AuthorbyKLRJuly 9, 20180

An Epic Road Trip – My American Anthology

national parks, 1966, vintage, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon

ROAD TRIP! Fifty two years ago, I was five years old. It was 1966 and my  parents took us on an epic road trip. We drove roundtrip around the country …

Read More About: An Epic Road Trip – My American Anthology

Posted in Works-in-progress

AuthorbyKLRMay 11, 20180

Designing Websites and Tulipmania

  [easy-image-collage id=4178] Website, website, website – can you say website? I have been immersed in redesigning my website for the past month. I have even been waking up thinking …

Read More About: Designing Websites and Tulipmania

Posted in Botanical Art, My Travels, Photography

AuthorbyKLRDecember 19, 20163

The Artist and the Art Career Coach – A Match Made in Creative Heaven

The beauty and benefits of an artist/art career coach relationship… We all need a helping hand sometimes but we also need to give ourselves permission to seek out and accept …

Read More About: The Artist and the Art Career Coach – A Match Made in Creative Heaven

Posted in Inspiration, Painting

AuthorbyKLRSeptember 28, 20160

Impressions of Oswegatchie Hills

A place can be many things – somewhere you go in your own mind to remember, revisit or relax, or a physical place you experience in person. I go to …

Read More About: Impressions of Oswegatchie Hills

Posted in Inspiration, My Travels, Painting, Photography, Wildlife Art, Works-in-progress

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sketches from nature

  • Happy Valentine’s Day! Ravens are believed to mate for life, so it seemed appropriate to call this painting ‘Love & Devotion’ featuring of a pair of ravens I saw canoodling in Yellowstone. Casein, 16 x 16 inches. #raven #valentines #ravenart #birdart #birdartist
    by kellyleahyradding 3 weeks ago
    Happy Valentine’s Day! Ravens are believed to mate for life, so it seemed appropriate to call this painting ‘Love & Devotion’ featuring of a pair of ravens I saw canoodling in Yellowstone. Casein, 16 x 16 inches.  #raven   #valentines   #ravenart   #birdart   #birdartist 
  • There are a lot of sketchbooks available with tones paper- they make for quick drawings and studies as the mid-tone values are already set. You just need to add highlights and darks. This is a @stillmanandbirn nova series soft cover to fit in my backpack. Do you have a favorite toned paper sketchbook? To read today’s postcard visit @postcards_to_nature #sketchbook #birdsketch #birdsketching #stillmanandbirn
    by kellyleahyradding 2 weeks ago
    There are a lot of sketchbooks available with tones paper- they make for quick drawings and studies as the mid-tone values are already set. You just need to add highlights and darks. This is a  @stillmanandbirn  nova series soft cover to fit in my backpack. Do you have a favorite toned paper sketchbook? To read today’s postcard visit  @postcards_to_nature   #sketchbook   #birdsketch   #birdsketching   #stillmanandbirn 
  • A decision to take a break from gale-force winds while birding Forsythe NWR led us to these magical creatures. Mesmerizing. To read about them on today’s card, visit @postcards_to_nature . #moonjellies #fabrianoblackblack #fabriano #gouache #mgrahamgouache
    by kellyleahyradding 1 week ago
    A decision to take a break from gale-force winds while birding Forsythe NWR led us to these magical creatures. Mesmerizing. To read about them on today’s card, visit  @postcards_to_nature  .  #moonjellies   #fabrianoblackblack   #fabriano   #gouache   #mgrahamgouache 
  • Crow quill dip pen drawing with C. Roberson & Co. Prout’s Brown Ink from @l.cornelissen_and_son in London. I’m finally getting around to using the drawing inks I’ve collected on all my travel! #americanbeechtree #botanicalillustrationpenandink #penandink #postcardstonature
    by kellyleahyradding 3 days ago
    Crow quill dip pen drawing with C. Roberson & Co. Prout’s Brown Ink from  @l .cornelissen_and_son in London. I’m finally getting around to using the drawing inks I’ve collected on all my travel!  #americanbeechtree   #botanicalillustrationpenandink   #penandink   #postcardstonature 
  • Time and time again we hear the about the benefits of a daily practice whether it’s drawing, painting, walking or whatever. It is a bit clichéd but it’s so true. I am using my daily postcard to practice sketching, creating small color studies and, more and more, to try something I’m not all that comfortable doing. Today I decided to play with wet-in-wet watercolors using @dalerrowney1783 Aquafina watercolor inks. These small studies at approx 4” x 5.75” are the perfect size to experiment. But I went back to my familiar gouache to paint the owl! To read today’s card visit @postcards_to_nature #birdart #birdartist #birdartwork #shortearedowl #shortearedowls #gouache #watercolor
    by kellyleahyradding 2 weeks ago
    Time and time again we hear the about the benefits of a daily practice whether it’s drawing, painting, walking or whatever. It is a bit clichéd but it’s so true. I am using my daily postcard to practice sketching, creating small color studies and, more and more, to try something I’m not all that comfortable doing. Today I decided to play with wet-in-wet watercolors using  @dalerrowney1783  Aquafina watercolor inks. These small studies at approx 4” x 5.75” are the perfect size to experiment. But I went back to my familiar gouache to paint the owl! To read today’s card visit  @postcards_to_nature   #birdart   #birdartist   #birdartwork   #shortearedowl   #shortearedowls   #gouache   #watercolor 
  • I switched my postcard today from a bird to this painting after my Facebook memory showed me a photo of this camellia and other scenes from Charleston, SC.l from 8 years ago. I was an artist at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and I had left behind a fresh snowfall of over 3 ft. Heaven. Read my @postcards_to_nature today to see how it led to my ‘Camellias of Middleton Place Plantation that I exhibited that June in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Botanical Images Scotia exhibition. #botanicalart #botanicalpainting #camellia #charleston #charlestonsc
    by kellyleahyradding 3 weeks ago
    I switched my postcard today from a bird to this painting after my Facebook memory showed me a photo of this camellia and other scenes from Charleston, SC.l from 8 years ago. I was an artist at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and I had left behind a fresh snowfall of over 3 ft. Heaven. Read my  @postcards_to_nature  today to see how it led to my ‘Camellias of Middleton Place Plantation that I exhibited that June in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Botanical Images Scotia exhibition.  #botanicalart   #botanicalpainting   #camellia   #charleston   #charlestonsc 
  • It was softly snowing as I painted this little study of snowdrops for @postcards_to_nature. Now i am listening to sleet and rain spatter on my skylight. I dream of snowdrops. Gouache on @strathmoreart toned blue mixed media paper. #snowdrops #gouache #gouachepainting #strathmorepaper #strathmoretonedblue
    by kellyleahyradding 2 weeks ago
    It was softly snowing as I painted this little study of snowdrops for  @postcards_to_nature . Now i am listening to sleet and rain spatter on my skylight. I dream of snowdrops. Gouache on  @strathmoreart  toned blue mixed media paper.  #snowdrops   #gouache   #gouachepainting   #strathmorepaper   #strathmoretonedblue 
  • I’ve finally started a dedicated bird sketching book. This is a handmade journal I got in Italy with a thinner laid paper than I’m used to. It is forcing me to not overwork my drawings because if I fuss at it I will tear the paper. I will have to stay focused on simple sketches and more observation. Not a bad thing! ✏️ . To read today’s card about the very cute American Tree Sparrow visit @postcards_to_nature #birdsketch #birdsketches #americantreesparrow
    by kellyleahyradding 2 weeks ago
    I’ve finally started a dedicated bird sketching book. This is a handmade journal I got in Italy with a thinner laid paper than I’m used to. It is forcing me to not overwork my drawings because if I fuss at it I will tear the paper. I will have to stay focused on simple sketches and more observation. Not a bad thing! ✏️ . To read today’s card about the very cute American Tree Sparrow visit  @postcards_to_nature   #birdsketch   #birdsketches   #americantreesparrow 
  • Today’s @postcards_to_nature was always going to be about the unique wildlife of the Cayman Islands that I saw during a short trip there while attending a President’s Club With my husband. I drew the Grand Cayman Parrot on my iPad (see today’s reel) but when I went to write my card I changed my mind to paint the endangered Blue Iguana. I think you can understand why!. #blueiguana #gouache #gouachepainting #mgrahamgouache
    by kellyleahyradding 1 week ago
    Today’s  @postcards_to_nature  was always going to be about the unique wildlife of the Cayman Islands that I saw during a short trip there while attending a President’s Club With my husband. I drew the Grand Cayman Parrot on my iPad (see today’s reel) but when I went to write my card I changed my mind to paint the endangered Blue Iguana. I think you can understand why!.  #blueiguana   #gouache   #gouachepainting   #mgrahamgouache 
  • Sandhill crane study sketches. To read about my ‘Close Encounter of the Crane Kind’ visit @postcards_to_nature. Such a cool bird! #sandhillcrane #birdsketching #birdsketch #birdsketches
    by kellyleahyradding 1 day ago
    Sandhill crane study sketches. To read about my ‘Close Encounter of the Crane Kind’ visit  @postcards_to_nature . Such a cool bird!  #sandhillcrane   #birdsketching   #birdsketch   #birdsketches 
  • Five years ago on this date we chased a rare visitor to our state- a western-wood warbler, a hermit warbler. A lifer bird for me. I’m happy to say that we found him but not without a helping of sorrow. This bird should have been spending the winter in the high mountain forests of Mexico and Central America, not gleaning for bugs on the cold, icy banks of a river in Connecticut. #birdart #birdartist #birdartistsofinstagram #hermitwarbler #gouachepainting
    by kellyleahyradding 3 weeks ago
    Five years ago on this date we chased a rare visitor to our state- a western-wood warbler, a hermit warbler. A lifer bird for me. I’m happy to say that we found him but not without a helping of sorrow. This bird should have been spending the winter in the high mountain forests of Mexico and Central America, not gleaning for bugs on the cold, icy banks of a river in Connecticut.  #birdart   #birdartist   #birdartistsofinstagram   #hermitwarbler   #gouachepainting 
  • ...and as we left Moonstone Beach after watching the short eared owls we saw this guys. Hoo hoo! I am having almost as much fun styling and photographing my postcards as I am fearing them. Especially finding the right book in my library. One of the great bird artist - J.F. Lansdowne . #birdartist #birdart #birdsketch #greathornedowl
    by kellyleahyradding 3 weeks ago
    ...and as we left Moonstone Beach after watching the short eared owls we saw this guys. Hoo hoo! I am having almost as much fun styling and photographing my postcards as I am fearing them. Especially finding the right book in my library. One of the great bird artist - J.F. Lansdowne .  #birdartist   #birdart   #birdsketch   #greathornedowl 
  • I have realized an unexpected benefit of my daily postcards- they are small studies for possible paintings. I’m exploring a painting as a result of this watercolor study of battling bald eagles on the Connecticut River. . #baldeagle #birdart #birdartist #connecticutartist
    by kellyleahyradding 2 weeks ago
    I have realized an unexpected benefit of my daily postcards- they are small studies for possible paintings. I’m exploring a painting as a result of this watercolor study of battling bald eagles on the Connecticut River. .  #baldeagle   #birdart   #birdartist   #connecticutartist 
  • After spending most of this glorious winter day outside birding- I just managed to get my card done. I had to feature the two very cool winter birds we got to see today. The very cute horned lark and the very cool red crossbill. I had fun sketching them out and adding color with @greenleafblue handmade watercolors. #redcrossbill #hornedlark #birdart #birdartist #birdsketch
    by kellyleahyradding 2 weeks ago
    After spending most of this glorious winter day outside birding- I just managed to get my card done. I had to feature the two very cool winter birds we got to see today. The very cute horned lark and the very cool red crossbill. I had fun sketching them out and adding color with  @greenleafblue  handmade watercolors.  #redcrossbill   #hornedlark   #birdart   #birdartist   #birdsketch 
  • Most of the time I hear cedar waxwings before I see them. Theirs is one of the few birdsongs I can always recognize. To read today’s card visit @postcards_to_nature ‘Silver Cedar’ Casein on panel, 5 x 7 inches
    by kellyleahyradding 4 weeks ago
    Most of the time I hear cedar waxwings before I see them. Theirs is one of the few birdsongs I can always recognize. To read today’s card visit  @postcards_to_nature  ‘Silver Cedar’ Casein on panel, 5 x 7 inches
  • I have a local pair of bald eagles nesting in my town. It is such a thrill to see them fly over my backyard, alway eliciting a stammering ‘b-b-b-bald e-e-a-how ’ to anyone within hearing or not!! Visit @postcards_to_nature to read today’s card. #baldeagle #birdsketching #gouache #gouachepainting
    by kellyleahyradding 4 weeks ago
    I have a local pair of bald eagles nesting in my town. It is such a thrill to see them fly over my backyard, alway eliciting a stammering ‘b-b-b-bald e-e-a-how ’ to anyone within hearing or not!! Visit  @postcards_to_nature  to read today’s card.  #baldeagle   #birdsketching   #gouache   #gouachepainting 
  • Everyone loves owls and artists are certainly no exception! To see them in the wild is a heart-stopping experience that will never get old. Moonstone Beach, you have a very special place in my birding heart- stay tuned for tomorrow’s postcard- to read today’s please visit @postcards_to_nature
    by kellyleahyradding 3 weeks ago
    Everyone loves owls and artists are certainly no exception! To see them in the wild is a heart-stopping experience that will never get old. Moonstone Beach, you have a very special place in my birding heart- stay tuned for tomorrow’s postcard- to read today’s please visit  @postcards_to_nature 
  • Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m continuing my botanical valentine color theme from yesterday with this gouache sketch of the glorious amaryllis brightening my studio! I won the jackpot with this one; three flower stalks with a total of 10 blossoms the size of my hand. Swipe left to see my progression. Visit @postcards_to_nature to read today’s card. ❤️ #botanicalart #botanicalartist #contemporaryart #amaryllis
    by kellyleahyradding 3 weeks ago
    Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m continuing my botanical valentine color theme from yesterday with this gouache sketch of the glorious amaryllis brightening my studio! I won the jackpot with this one; three flower stalks with a total of 10 blossoms the size of my hand. Swipe left to see my progression. Visit  @postcards_to_nature  to read today’s card. ❤️  #botanicalart   #botanicalartist   #contemporaryart   #amaryllis 
  • I realized today while creating today’s study that I have never painted a swan. Not even the Trumpeter swans in Yellowstone Park. I also realized today, while sketching out the swan, why so many artists paint swans- they are full of lovely, sweeping curves.
    by kellyleahyradding 2 days ago
    I realized today while creating today’s study that I have never painted a swan. Not even the Trumpeter swans in Yellowstone Park. I also realized today, while sketching out the swan, why so many artists paint swans- they are full of lovely, sweeping curves.
  • I came outside to photograph today’s card and while there is still snow on the ground and the breeze is a little chilly, the sounds are all SPRING! Birds are basking in the warm sun and singing with all their little might! Perfect day to post about a harbinger of spring, the American Woodcock. To read today’s card visit @postcards_to_nature. #americanwoodcock #springisspringing #derwentwatercolorpencils
    by kellyleahyradding 1 week ago
    I came outside to photograph today’s card and while there is still snow on the ground and the breeze is a little chilly, the sounds are all SPRING! Birds are basking in the warm sun and singing with all their little might! Perfect day to post about a harbinger of spring, the American Woodcock. To read today’s card visit  @postcards_to_nature .  #americanwoodcock   #springisspringing   #derwentwatercolorpencils 

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