July 1, 2009
Oh boy! Let’s go for a walk at the Orland Grasslands, part of Chicago’s Cook County Forest Preserves. I wonder what we will find…
This day was overcast, warm and humid. One great thing about an overcast day is that all of the colors seem to pop out. Green grass is greener and wildflowers are brighter.
Right away I spotted this little guy. I think he is a yellow sulfur butterfly (UPDATE: identified by Doug with Gossamer Tapestry, it is a False Crocus Geometer [Xanthotype urticaria]). He was low to the ground, quickly flying from grass blade to grass blade. He only stopped for a second and I quickly took his picture.
Next, I found this gem in the dirt. Isn’t he beautiful? This is the 6 spotted tiger beetle. Can you see all 6 spots? I just love his metallic green color.
The further we walked, the wetter it got, so we didn’t go too far.
I think this picture will make a really neat painting. I love how the landscape tells a story of earlier rains which came through and soaked the ground. Speaking of rain….
The sky is looking a little mean right now! The atmosphere is getting heavy and I think it is time to go. Just 2 hours after I took this photo, an incredible quick thunderstorm rolled in bringing 70 MPH winds and it knocked out my power for a good 24 hours!
Don’t fool with nature!
7 Comments | 
Landscape, hiking, nature, storm, weather | Tagged: cook county forest preseaves, hiking, Orland Grasslands, storm, summer | 
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Posted by letspaintnature
June 27, 2009
OK, so my obsession is nature. When I find something I’m not familiar with I sketch it and then I diligently seek out information on it. I cannot rest until I learn. So when I found this (and I never think it is unique or rare, I just don’t know what it is…), I tried to find the answer myself.
Here is how I identify things I’m not familiar with:
- type a detailed description in google images
- find the closest one that resembles it
- re-research that particular subject (name) to verify
- look in all of my field books for that species
- bingo
English Plantain watercolor sketch
This is a weed growing in my yard which I will not let my Son mow over. I’m pretty sure it is an English Plantain , a common weed. This morning there was a sweat bee exploring the head of one with the most petal shoots.
Everybody can learn in this fashion! It doesn’t take a 40K college bill to educate yourself (in America, we have to go bankrupt trying to get an education). If you see something and you want to learn about it…do a little free research. If you are determined enough…nothing can stop you. Find ways to make it happen. If you are passionate enough nothing is going to stop you!
english plantain watercolor close-up
So after not knowing what the heck this was, with a little free research I discovered it is an English Plantain weed, which is “alien” according to my Peterson Wildflower Guide, which means it is “Foreign, but successfully established in our area by man, or as an escape.”
Welcome my little alien, to my yard! Even though you are common now and many scientists already know who you are…I just discovered you today! I really like you too!
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Artwork, Nature Sketching, art, nature, sketchbook | Tagged: Christine Kane Art, ckane, educate yourself, english plantain, watercolor sketch, weed sketch | 
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Posted by letspaintnature
June 25, 2009
This morning I walked out of my house to go to work and just look who greeted me with a good morning surprise!
It’s a plume moth! I think it is a Cnaemidophorus Rhododactylus Plume Moth, but if you can’t pronounce it like myself, than don’t worry about it!
Well, I was so excited that he came for a visit…and I never think anything is by chance…but a scheduled blessing (yeah, it happens), that I decided to study him the best way I know how…sketch him!!!
plume moth sketch - watercolor
It’s amazing how intimately you can learn something if you just try to draw it. Even if you think you can not draw, but love science, just try sketching your subject. You will have to look over every inch very slowly. Talk to yourself in you head, for example ask yourself: “Where are his darkest/lightest features, what markings or spots characterizes this species from another, where is the light coming from, where is the shadow casting, what is that shadow color…blue? purple?” You will be amazed at how well you become acquainted. The next time you encounter your subject, maybe years later, your memory will recall the information thanks to the few minutes you spent drawing!
3 Comments | 
Artwork, God, Nature Sketching, art, moth, nature, plume, sketchbook | Tagged: Christine Kane Art, ckane, moth, moth sketch, plume moth, sketchbook | 
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Posted by letspaintnature
June 23, 2009
Let's Go Fishing Sketch, Centennial Park - Tinley Pk, IL
I did this sketch a few weeks ago and forgot all about it. It is from a sunny afternoon at Centennial Park of Tinley Park, IL. This man shown here is enjoying some fishing beside the willow trees. He did not know I was a few feet away sketching him during his chosen past time.
This sketch reminds me of my Grandpa Rich, who is my most favorite fisherman ever. Today my Grandpa is in his 90’s and in ill health. He is the reason for my love of nature. He took me hiking, camping and fishing just about every year of my childhood.
On my first fishing experience when I was very, very small, my Grandfather took me to a Missouri state park lake. I caught a bass (I think) and he made such a grand deal over it, I felt proud. As we drove towards the exit of the park however, I looked at my fish in the cooler at started to cry. I was thinking of the fish’s feelings and didn’t want him to be in pain or on my dinner plate. My Grandpa suddenly stopped the car in the middle of the street and asked what was wrong. At first I wasn’t going to tell him because I thought I would disappoint him but then I confessed. Instead of telling me I was “silly” or yelling, he quietly took the cooler, left the car in the middle of the street and walked to the lake to release him. That is why my Grandpa Rich is my favorite fisherman.
The next few years I “got over it” and was not opposed to fishing but I never ever forgot what Grandpa Rich did that day. He didn’t reason with me or tell me I was ridiculous (which I was), he just considered my feelings before his own and that’s how he lives his life today always considering others before himself. How powerful grandparents can be in the lives of their grandchildren, look at me I’m remembering this story 30 years later!
2 Comments | Artwork, Landscape, Nature Sketching, art, nature, sketchbook | Tagged: centennial park, Christine Kane Art, ckane, fishing sketch, grandpa rich, tinley park, watercolor sketch | Permalink
Posted by letspaintnature
June 22, 2009
Look what greeted me in the parking lot of Walmart!
Isn’t he beautiful??? He/She is a Halloween Pennant Dragonfly, named for its festive Halloween colors (yellow, orange, brown). He flew right over my head and landed on this car antenna.
I was in the store for about 45 minutes, when I returned to my car he was back again on the same car. Man, he really likes that antenna! Maybe we will have to do a sketch of him!
4 Comments | Dragonfly, halloween pennant, nature | Tagged: halloween pennant dragonfly, summer bugs, yellow dragonfly | Permalink
Posted by letspaintnature
