….thanks to Boondockers Farm in Oregon for permission to use their photo. These pigs were imported to the US during the 1900’s for breeding. “British folklore claims the large black spots are bruises caused by the apples falling onto them as they foraged the orchard floors for food.”
Rooks hang around the parking spots on Dartmoor, making cheeky chirpy noises at the visitors in the hope of some sandwich crumbs….
Bingo! Birds are arriving at my feeders today. I espied a Blackcap on the bush as he was pecking at the fat ball with such a cute hair do! 
In North America these cute birds are called Chickadees..
I wonder often how to anchor my art ideas down. There is so much to choose from when it comes to making a picture .But at the start of this year my paint sketches have the anchor that is my own experience in a given day.
I set up a lovely looking bird feeding stand in the summer, only to solemnly and regularly dump the rejected rotting food in the bin for a fresh supply in the hope that at some point the local bird community might regard my garden as an OK place to feast on sunflower heart seeds, niger seeds, suet balls, and peanuts, it has all been there with no takers.
Finally as the weather cooled to winter some birds have found the bird food acceptable. Although it all still seems a bit sporadic.
The Great Tit has been to the feeder in the tree, so here is a quick painting sketch of a Great Tit to complement my success.
Some people say Worcester Sauce when they should say Worcestershire Sauce, some people say Harris Hawk when they should call this bird a Harris’s hawk and has something to do with it being named after an ornithologist called, yes you guessed, Harris.
This was my final painting of my Day of Play using texture in the body of the bird.
Diane Young Artist 