8.13.14 - Birding 101 - KidSummer - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

Brewster, MA

Rainy Cape Cod days are not a good time for bird watching... the Bird Nerds In Training had the morning to create both images on paper with colored pencils and painting nest boxes to give back to the birds themselves.  We listened to Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" while they painted...and while they were painting, I asked the young artists what they liked so much about painting.  Do not miss their own comments below their own photo and completed nest box creation.  Never underestimate the relaxation and therapeutic release from holding a paint covered brush in your hand... 

(double click on photos to enlarge)

Finding inspiration in Bird Alley at CCMNH

Scarlet Tanager

Quiet artists

Learning more about Tanagers

 

Screech Owl

Red Knot

 

American Golden-Plover

Blue Jay

Eastern Screech-Owl

Indigo Bunting, American Goldfinch & Cedar Waxwing

Paining nest boxes

Even swirls in the rinse water provided inspiration

"...calms you down...relieves stress..."

"...you can express yourself and you can get MESSY!"

"...nobody's telling you, 'You can't do THAT.'..it's not so serious like

all the time.  Some people like to sit down to paint & some like to stand."

"...you don't have to look at others'...everyone has a different

style of painting...no one can make you feel bad about it."

"...with paint, sometimes you can't get a drop to go

where you want it to... just like the rain falls..."

(gorgeous words)

"...letting all of your feelings go and create what you like..."

"...love the feeling of the brush in my hand, also that

every painting is unique..."

"...very expressive...I can do the things that

I want to do."

 

As if the birds weren't enough inspiration ... these young artists' words moved me. 

Well done ladies!