3 x 5″ ink and watercolor on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
Looking down upon the spectacular apparatus
He couldn’t help but notice
Brightly colored spheres
Who surfed the edges
Of this spinning, whistling whirligig
And he wondered just where he might belong
9 x 12″ ink and watercolor on paper
An ensemble of bouffant feathers in jewel tones
She had a penchant for the finer things
Yet the skies were often gray
And the nights cold
Under the glitz of her starry crown
~3 x 5″ watercolor and ink. Available for purchase https://www.etsy.com/listing/114911133/wings-made-of-leaves-mixed-media
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
While waves and water provided him a life, he felt most at home among the trees. Each leaf a shelter for his thoughts. The rustling and swaying of branches music for his soul.
So attached to the trees was he, that upon each ascent, he imagined his wings were made of leaves. Playing music in the wind. Bringing comfort in flight.
~27 x 22″ Ink and Acrylic on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
I love when something unexpectedly comes together. I began working on this piece years ago, with an initial drawing of the central bird-like form, but I never liked it. The burnt sienna colored design seemed forced and just kind of odd. The original bird reminded me more of a dead chicken hanging from those store windows in China Town than it did an elegant, energy filled bird. Unhappy with the piece, I stashed it away hoping that maybe someday I would come up with a brilliant idea as to how to salvage the darned thing.
A few months ago I pulled out the piece again, determined it could be saved. I worked on it a bit, but no epiphanies were made, so the drawing got sent to the corner.
Two days ago, as I desperately searched for an idea that would motivate me to create something I loved, I once again pulled out the bird. I’m not real certain why I thought it would be the piece that would fulfill me. Up until this point the drawing had been utterly unwilling to work with me in being something amazing. It was boring and disjointed and I saw little hope for its survival. Yet, here I was pulling it out again.
I am so thrilled I did because I think this piece turned out awesome (totally tooting my own horn here, I realize). Its got movement and texture and energy. Heck, I even like that I stuck with a monochromatic palette of browns -which is shocking to me. I really couldn’t be more pleased.
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
Okay, so I admit that pairing a kiwi and a kiwi is a bit predictable, but it doesn’t seem to take away from the fact that I still really dig this set of coasters.
I sifted through my inherited stamp collection once again for inspiration. As I came across the lovely green kiwi stamp, I knew I had to do something with it.
Initially I aimed for a simple design utilizing bright colors with a focus solely on the fruit kiwi. As I worked on it, though, I realized I could incorporate another bird. Birds and me lately – we seem to have a thing.
Originals and prints available for purchase.
8 x 10″ watercolor and ink on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
I needed a bit of fresh air yesterday so decided to take a little stroll. After wandering around the alleys of downtown Ft. Collins – which I must say are lovely – I made my way back to the studio. Right before going inside, I noticed some pigeons that had made a living space for themselves in a metal pipe thing on the side of the neighboring building.
The birds had chosen a home wallpapered with an old, retro vacuum ad. I loved the choice and wondered if the pigeon’s friends often complimented them on their bold and graphic taste in home décor. Was this space coveted among the fowl? Did they know that a pigeon against a red back drop always looks good? More importantly, are there hipsters in the bird world?
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
For some reason I felt like drawing a chicken yesterday. As I started in on the guy, I began thinking about the many, many ways we use “chicken” in our everyday language.
Other animals are not completely forgotten in colloquial English. I have thrown out a “holy cow” from time to time and may have even used the term “horse’s ass” once or twice – but such sayings are a drop in the bucket when compared to the chicken.
Shoot. I think the earliest joke I ever learned was, “Why did the chicken cross the road?”
This leaves me to wonder. How in the heck did the chicken become so popular?
Original and prints available for purchase
11 x 14″ Acrylic on crazy thick paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
I’ve been enjoying personifying animals in my work lately. The images make me laugh and tackling human ideas and emotions via a four footed or winged friend is something I’ve really enjoyed. It puts things in perspective – which keeps me from taking things too seriously.
For day 72 I wanted to explore the emu. This little guy is a study for a larger piece I have in mind in which I plan to personify Mr. Emu.
Original and prints of this piece are available for purchase
8 x 10″ Ink on Paper
Goal: To create one work of art each day for 365 consecutive days
High temps, fires and crazy smoke are, sadly, all the rage in Colorado right now. -Scary stuff for a lot of folks. I realize I have no place to complain, but on a purely selfish level, I hate the fires and temps because they have really put a damper on my getting outdoors to enjoy nature – one of my favorite things to do.
So last weekend, when I was able to get out in non-burning Encampment, Wyoming, I really soaked it up. I’m pretty certain this may be the reason for the sudden onslaught of nature based stuff I’ve been creating.
Day 60’s piece is a combination of a neat birdhouse my parents had hanging down at their place, and a drawing of a pheasant inspired by a photo I spotted on Canadian Hiking Photography’s blog. I’m pretty darned pleased with this one. I love the more realistic style of the bird juxtaposed to the simpler abstracted branches and nest.
Original piece available at https://www.etsy.com/listing/103179476/bird-and-nest-ink-drawing-original or by emailing me at micah@azzlsoft.com
Prints available at https://www.etsy.com/listing/103179903/bird-and-nest-ink-drawing-print or by emailing me at micah@azzlsoft.com
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
She’d really taken a liking to the birds. In fact over the past year or two she’d begun studying up on them – working to identify each little beauty by sound and sight. Of course she knew the easy ones, like the robin and hummingbird. But she could also recognize the finches, sparrows and egrets with ease. At times she even went so far as to call herself a birder.
Now though, as she sat perched on this branch, she realized she had taken her hobby too far.
This original piece or prints available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/listing/102962770/bird-girl-mixed-media-original or by emailing
Micah Richardson 
