Backyard Birds – Lucky Starz Studio

Backyard Birds: Nuthatch’s Song

Two red-breasted nuthatch birds sit on a pine tree branch with a pinecone and pine needles growing from the branch.

When I sat down to work on a hummingbird drawing I started several months ago (meant to be the 12th in my Backyard Birds series) I realized I hadn’t honored my love of the nuthatches yet. So, I set aside that sketch and let my admiration for these funny little feathered artists come through myContinue reading “Backyard Birds: Nuthatch’s Song”

Backyard Birds: Chickadee Dee Dee

One of the most commonly seen birds in my backyard is the clever, curious, and very musical chickadee, recognizable by their sweet “dee dee dee” song. These little cuties love the bird feeder and don’t travel far like those that migrate to other regions each year. One afternoon this Fall, I was relaxing on myContinue reading “Backyard Birds: Chickadee Dee Dee”

Backyard Birds: Hummingbird Happiness

Drawing of a colorful hummingbird drinking from a flower

I think it’s time I shared the Hummingbird story I mentioned in my first Backyard Birds post a couple of months ago. One afternoon in July I spotted a tiny baby hummingbird perched on top of one of my tomato cages. It looked as if he was confused or injured. Maybe it had been orphanedContinue reading “Backyard Birds: Hummingbird Happiness”

Backyard Birds: Bluebird Beauty

Colored pencil sketch of a bluebird with bright blue feathers

For a few months last summer, a young pair of bluebirds lived in an old birdhouse attached to the side of the large Locust tree in my backyard. It has been said that the bluebird has lived in writers’ and poets’ imaginations as age-old bearers of joy and reverie. It’s no wonder they got theContinue reading “Backyard Birds: Bluebird Beauty”

Backyard Birds: Hummingbird’s Grace

drawing in colored pencils of a hummingbird drinking from small white and red flowers

Hummingbirds love fragrant flowers, and there are few flowering shrubs with as much allure as the Hot Lips Salvia. Hundreds of perfect blooms call to nearby hummingbirds to feast. This is why I planted these shrubs around my yard, especially near the glider loveseat where I sit while enjoying a sunny day in my garden.Continue reading “Backyard Birds: Hummingbird’s Grace”

Backyard Birds: Leap of Faith

Detail image of a black and white sketch of a Junco bird about to take off in flight with wings fluttering and tail feathers spread out crouching forward on a branch

Witnessing the anticipation and quick movements of the Junco birds in my yard as they leap into the air inspired me to draw this backyard bird in action. While creating this sketch, I focused on expressing the animal’s movement and intensity just before liftoff. There’s an incredible sensation of excitement and hope that builds upContinue reading “Backyard Birds: Leap of Faith”

Backyard Birds: Sparrow’s Glance

Colored sketch of a house sparrow hand drawn by artist Laura Lucht. Sparrow is brown, white and black, with a yellow beak.

The common House Sparrow visits my yard often; they are a social bird and love to dine wherever people are. While I was spending the weekend with a friend in Los Angeles, she took me to an adorable little cafe for breakfast. Just as we sat down at our table outside on the patio, aContinue reading “Backyard Birds: Sparrow’s Glance”

Backyard Birds: Junco in Flight

Sitting in the garden, I noticed two Juncos in flight overhead. They were catching the wind with their widespread wings, swirling around each other as if to dance. I watched until they were out of sight and imagined what it would feel like to fly with them. The grace and beauty of their synchronicity inContinue reading “Backyard Birds: Junco in Flight”

Backyard Birds: Curiosity of a Hummingbird

Detail image of the head of the hummingbird in the sketch.

Sitting in my garden surrounded by lush plants and fragrant flowers is where I feel most calm, creative, and happy. Inspiration freely comes to me when I encounter nature up close wherever I am, but I’ve had some extraordinary encounters in my backyard. After weeks of sitting in my garden watching hummingbirds flit around theContinue reading “Backyard Birds: Curiosity of a Hummingbird”