Recently Off the Easel | Berry Fritz

• Two Green Jays

  Oil, linen, 18" x 18" x 1". The Rio Grande Valley of Texas is the only area in the United States that supports substantial numbers of Green Jays. It always feels like an honor to host these handsome birds in my back yar…

• Black Kettle with Granny Smiths

  Oil, Linen. As soon as I saw this old black kettle on a mantlepiece in Quebec, I envisioned it paired with green apples. I started the painting as soon as I got back to Texas, and "voila," as they say in Quebec.

• Bluebirds and Tribal Drum

  Oil, Panel, 20 x 16 x 1/4 inch

• Tufted Titmice on a Gourd

  Oil, Linen, 14 x 11. I always invest in one of these gourds in the fall. I say "invest" because they last for months and add a cheerful component to my windowsill or to the patio table, where I feed the birds.

• American Goldfinch No. 1

  Oil, Panel, 8 x 10. I don't see too many goldfinches in south Texas, but when I do catch sight of them against an intense blue Texas sky I am always inspired to grab my brushes and capture the memory.

• American Goldfinch Two

  Oil, Panel, 8 x 10. I occasionally see American Goldfinches enjoying the seeds of dying brown-eyed susans in the alley behind my house. Viewing their bright yellow feathers against an intense blue southern sky is a rewa…

• Lantern Festival

  Oil, Panel, 20 x 24. I don't know whether to classify this painting as still life or wildlife. Although the lanterns are bigger and more colorful, the little brown birds present a lively contrast that works well for me,…