Gonna make a painted conure

[Skittys_Daddy]

All this talk recently about the painted conure species gave me a great idea. Last summer I painted my entire apartment. I'm now finally getting around to finishing off the shelves/frames to match. Then I have a few unpainted nicknacks to do. BUT once that is done I'm gonna make a painted conure!

I'm gonna take a favorite picture of Skittles and blow it up to canvas style and use it as a 'guide' and I'm gonna paint Skittles!!! It will literally be a work of art!

I'm just curious if anyone else has ever tried this. (By that I mean, tried to paint their own bird - not Skittles.) If you have painted Skittles, I expect royalties in the form of pasta noodles or peeled grapes.

I'm not sure how well I will do since I have tremors in my hands due to side effects of my meds, but I at least want to try.

 

[BoomBoom]

I haven't tried to paint Boomer. I used to dabble in drawing but I'm not good at animal subjects so I never even made the attempt.

Do you draw/paint as a hobby?

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Not really. I do more gaming than anything. But I also like to do puzzles. I am just looking to try something new, being creative and all. I figure that it can't hurt to try. I think that getting the physical outline of him would be the hardest part. Having it size proportional and all that.

 

[GreyNickels]

If I tried to paint Skittles, I'm pretty sure my children would eat my subject before my still life were complete.

 

[Flboy]

One way to start, using a photo, photo shop it into any kind of sketch you want. Use it as a 'paint by the numbers'

 

[BoomBoom]

As in pc gaming? What are you currently playing? That's how I spend majority of my free time lol!

 

[MonicaMc]

Anna of Macaw and Cockatoo Rescue of New Mexico painted some of her birds on her walls.

 

[BoomBoom]

Great to see you back in the forums, Monica! How are you and the feathered friends?

 

[Birdman666]

I can't draw my way out of a paper bag... but if you just want a picture blown up to wall sized, these guys do some interesting things:

Wall Murals & Custom Mural Wallpaper - Murals Your Way

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I went to the store today to do some shopping after my appt and I bought some paints. I do my painting or puzzles after I put Skittles to bed - no way I could do any of that with him around. LOL

@BoomBoom Yes, mostly PC gaming. I've gotten quite a few games on Steam that I like and I also have a monthly BigFish games membership. Right now I'm heavily into "Cities Skylines". I like simulation games as well as stimulating games that require thought and logic (puzzles, hidden object etc). I'm REALLY looking forward to the new 'RollerCoaster Tycoon World" coming out in December. I also play a lot of the Lego games on my PS3 and some other games as well. I used to be heavily into the Sims, but the latest one, Sims 4, sucks.

 

[BoomBoom]

I enjoyed Sims 3 a lot. Didn't get Sims 4. Simulation / strategy / tactical / rpg are kind of my thing. Getting ready to play beta on a new mmorpg that's coming out, so in kind of excited about that haha!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I never really did get into mmorpgs. I considered trying out 'World of Warcraft' a number of years ago but one of the clerks in the electronics dept told me she referred to it as 'world of warcrack' and that it was addicting so I held off.

You're not missing much with Sims 4. The Sims 2 was the best in the series IMO, mainly because of the EPs. With Sims 4 they got rid of the create-a-style and 'open-world' that they introduced in Sims 3. Ever since Origin took over EA all they release are crappy games. I wish I had discovered Steam earlier.

I really like EuroTruck Simulator 2 as well. They are coming out with an American Truck Simulator (date TBA) that I cannot wait for either!

I don't let Skittles play video games because he cheats.

PS - has Boomer been acting strange at all lately? Skittles has been extremely cuddly lately. Normally he lets me sit in my chair and watch tv and he goes to sit on his playstand. I never could get him to stay with me when I was in the chair - now, he flies over to me and crawls down my shirt and chews on it and all that. He's also a lot more vocal the past three days. I figure it must be a seasonal thing?

 

[BoomBoom]

MMORPGs are pretty addictive. Luckily I naturally get bored with them after a month or two because I get burnt out playing the same game. During that time though, I am pretty much wrapped around the game (whatever mmorpg it is that I was playing).

I have Farming Simulator 2014 in my Steam library that I haven't even played yet. I read that it's a pretty relaxing game which I need because of how crazy my job can be sometimes. I got it on sale for like 6 bucks. Speaking of sales, since you have a steam account, add all games you're interested in to your Wish List. When the game goes on sale, which it often does at Steam, you will be notified by email. I got so many good deals that way. I wait for the 50%-95% discount then I swoop in.

As far as Booms, he always has to be on my lap, shoulder or inside my shirt when I'm on the computer, so nothing new there. I wish he'd stay on his perch or tree more but no luck. As long as he behaves then he's fine. Back in June, during his hormonal funk, he was bad. While I'm on the computer, he'd do his ADHD chicken clucks and climb all over me. Then it escalated to lunging at my belly and tshirt whilst on my lap. I gave him consistent time outs and he rarely does it anymore.

But 3 weeks ago, I think he's starting another hormonal funk. He doesn't do the belly lunges anymore but he suddenly hates it when I type on my phone. He also does not like it when I walk carrying the water dish for his cage or the budgies. He shows his displeasure by flying to my shoulder and nipping my neck. The bites hurt! I have to train him out of that. Time outs and I will try 'stationing' for the first time. It's basically telling the bird to stay. He knows the concept but I can only keep him stationed if I have my eye on him with my palm in the stop position.

Honestly not sure what got into him. If it's not one thing, it's another. And yeah, he's a lot more vocal since 3 weeks ago. Otherwise he is extremely sweet and loving. I swear he is bipolar lol!

 

[MonicaMc]

Great to see you back in the forums, Monica! How are you and the feathered friends?

Unfortunately, lost one of my older birds and a couple of months later, took in another which I hadn't planned on getting, but he's here now. Other than that, doing well and keeping busy.

 

[KOZKO]

A method I learned in art class in high school was to make an X from corner to corner of a picture then make a plus between the centerline of the X and continue blocking it off into smaller and smaller portions and then do the same X/+ pattern on your new drawing and you only draw the portions in that same sections of the pattern! The more detail you want the smaller and smaller your X/+patterns need to be. It all comes together in the end.

 

[BoomBoom]

Great to see you back in the forums, Monica! How are you and the feathered friends?

Unfortunately, lost one of my older birds and a couple of months later, took in another which I hadn't planned on getting, but he's here now. Other than that, doing well and keeping busy.

Sorry to hear that, Monica

Good to hear you are doing well. I increased my flock size by 2 budgies a few months ago myself. Regards to your flock!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

@Monica My condolences

@BoomBoom Yeah, I do that with my Steam account. I also check out the midweek and developers sales too. I was actually able to get quite a few games that cost about $20+ for under $5!

I had to put Skittles in a time-out this afternoon. First time in a LONG time.

@Kozko Honestly, that post has me completely lost. LOL.

 

[KOZKO]

does this help? make the same patterns on your new painting (light pencil) and only draw what is in that section.

 

[BoomBoom]

@Kozko: Cute sun!

@Skitty: Sorry to hear. These birds are smart and they'll figure out what got them the time out so I'm sure he will learn in time. Boomer has been a challenge ever since he reached sexual maturity. He is usually sweet and all but when those instincts kick in, forget it lol! I wonder if they calm down after a certain age? That would be lovely. Maybe I should start a new post and see what people say?

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

@Kozko Actually, that does help explain it. I've actually never heard of this method before, but I've also never taken an art class before. I imagine this method will help with proportioning? That's my biggest fear - getting the proportioning correctly displayed.

@BoomBoom Yeah, they are. I have seen the results with Skittles. It amazes me how intelligent he is. He KNOWS when he is misbehaving. It shows clearly with his response to my actions as a result.

For example. If I say 'come on' or 'come here' in my birdy voice he usually will fly over to me (especially if I 'tap' my shoulder). But when I tell him 'get over there' or 'off' he will fly away from the forbidden location to a play area.

I have heard that suns go through the "terrible twos" and it is especially difficult during the puberty stages. Skittles DEFINITELY went through those. I have read it subsides with time and age and it certainly has with Skittles. Though, when breeding season hits - it still shows to some degree, which is only natural.

I only forbid him from going places that are either 'hazardous' or places I don't want him chewing.

The other thing I find amazing is his choice of who is good and who is evil. It showed before I even got him; when he was showing off for me, then ignored that rude lady at the store and then showed off for me again once she left.

I have two neighbors on this floor. One of them will actually talk to him and play with him through the cage bars. The other one 'claims' to like him but I think she 'secretly' resents him. She doesn't go over and talk to him in his cage or play with him other than to say "hi skitty" from across the room. She plugs her ears like he's annoying her (the only one I know who does that). Yes, he's loud - but she is overdramatic about him. He knows this - cause he HATES her and will attack her regardless of the situation.

Of course, he will attack anyone who comes near me - regardless- which is why I keep him caged around others. But at the vets, he doesn't attack me, the vet or my friend who take me. That friend actually used to raise sunnies and she adores Skittles. It's just such a riot how he responds to different people.