birds to sea dragons, sunsets to seascapes all make beautiful nature paintings

There are so many beautiful nature paintings to do. All of nature cries out to be painted.

Some of my favorite things to paint are butterflies and flowers. Then I have to do some of God's other critters like dragonflies and birds.

The wonders of nature are so inspiring, what about a sunset or a seascape - yes!

One time my husband accidentally caught a sea turtle. He brought him home for me to see.

Beautiful nature paintings of the gifts of God."Bold Freedom"

We took him back to the water to let him and go his flippers started going. I saw a tear coming out of his eye. I said, "Look he is crying."

We turned him loose and now he is now swimming in his "Bold Freedom". If that doesn't make you want to paint, I don't know what does!

beautiful nature paintings

Doing paintings of nature is such a joy.

Most of my life I have lived close to nature. The birds and bees, flowers and sunsets, plus all the lovely creatures are a pleasure and bring enjoyment.

These nature paintings express that joy and admiration. Come enjoy with me.

Watercolor nature, bird painting by artist Carol MayNorthern Flicker

We were living in a home with a tin roof. We started getting a "Northern Flicker" that came by every morning at the same time.

He would beat on our tin roof. He was staking out his territory to keep all the other flickers away. We started calling him our alarm clock!

God's gifts are amazing. This nature painting turned out gorgeous done with watercolors.


Leafy Sea Dragons are the most amazing critters. Art by Carol MayLeafy

Leafy sea-dragons are native on the coral reef of Australia. They are a quiet animal related to the Sea Horse.

They camouflage themselves in leafy appendages and wait for small fish to come by to suck them up. Can you find two "Leafies" in this painting?


Watercolor painting of a Bottlenose Dolphin with her baby. They are "Born Free" painting of nature by Carol MayBorn Free

It was getting old trying to do paintings of nature like a photo.

Painting is supposed to be fun. Why else would we paint? So I changed it up a bit for the sake of freedom!

My dolphins were always painted with the dolphin's natural grey color. This time I painted with the fun colors of pink and purple with turquoise water.

These dolphins are enjoying their new found freedom in "Born Free".


White egret and water lilies original watercolor painting done by the painting artist Carol MayEgret and Lilies

After I did the dolphin's painting in pink and purple, I thought it was so much fun, I used the color combination again. No more trying to paint like a photograph. I let my artistic imagination fly free.

In Florida it is quite common to see the egrets out walking among the lily-pads looking for something to eat.

This time because the egret had a yellow-orange beak, I made some of the lily-pads yellow-orange. What fun it was doing these paintings of nature in a free style! "Egret and Lilies"


Painting of nature by Carol May the artistDowny on Pine

I like to walk in the mornings when everything is clean and crisp. One time I kept seeing a Downy Woodpecker on the pine trees when I walked by every morning.

Finally I told my husband, I think it means I am supposed to add him to the paintings of nature. I'm going to paint him. I took some photos to figure out how to paint the pine bark. And the Virginia Creeper was turning red.

So I did the "Downy On Pine" with Virginia Creeper climbing up the tree. The red creeper leaves complimented the red on the Downy's head to make a beautiful nature painting.

Did you know -

Many paintings may be used for digital streaming to Acanvas digital picture frames available on your phone or TV.

It is a new feature supported by Fine Art America.


Freedom Falls an oil painting by Carol MayFreedom Falls

Waterfalls are an awesome God gift to paint. "Freedom Falls"

It was fun painting all the brilliant fall foliage. Then the dark side of the rocky cliff made a perfect backdrop for the waterfall.

You can paint waterfalls with the step-by-step instructions.


Fun color with watercolorsFun Color

Here's a loose watercolor painting of a country road winding up through the beautiful foliage.

Sometimes it's just plain fun to play with the paint and colors. This painting has lots of "Fun Color".


What could be more fun to paint than some pink flamingos "Getting Started" flying.Getting Started

What could be more fun to paint than some pink flamingos running and "Getting Started". They run with their long legs and flap their wings to take off flying.

They are not bright pink all year long. But when they have a lot of shrimp in their diet, they turn a lovely pink color.


C-Free-Love-DovesFree Love

Sometimes an artist will get stuck on one thing for a while. "Free Love" came after the dolphin and egret paintings with pink, purple and turquoise.

The colors are softer in this painting to portray the soft nature of the mourning doves loving on each other.

A simple, beautiful nature painting to portray a complex subject. Love is our gift to give.


White coral and sea shells paintingSea Shells

While the weather was cool outside I was dreaming of going to the beach.

And you know what we all do when we go to the beach - collect "Sea Shells" to take home for memories.

This is a watercolor painting is full of lots of memories.


Cardinal 'n' Dogwood oil nature painting by Carol MayCardinal 'n' Dogwood

I went out and painted some of the wild Dogwood flowers while they were blooming.

After I came home a male Cardinal made a good addition for "Cardinal 'n' Dogwood". These two God gifts made a wonderful nature painting.


A lovely watercolor painting of a mother giraffe loving her baby giraffe by artist Carol MayMother's Love

Giraffes are such amazing animals. They have interested me for years. I have put them in a number of beautiful nature paintings over the years.

Here is my newest painting of a mother giraffe showering "Mother's Love" on her baby.

You can do your own giraffe painting.


C-Koi-FeedingKoi Feeding

When I grew up we had many outdoor ponds, as well as indoor aquariums for tropical fish. When we fed the fish they would all swarm around the food to feed.

My mom went to a Gary Jenkins class where they painted Koi in a circle. Gary has a wonderful gift of painting.

"Koi Feeding" is just what they look like when they are eating. My husband said the one with the white head is the ring leader. Lots of fun!


Watercolor painting of a brown pelican by Carol MayPaddlin' Pelican

Pelicans are amazing birds. We got to feel one when we accidentally caught him while we were fishing.

They look large, but they actually don't weigh very much. They are very light weight. When we let him go, he paddled around, as if to say thank you.

The "Paddlin' Pelican" made a beautiful nature painting.


You might like these

  • What a joy doing Butterfly Paintings! Butterflies are so awesome! When I see these gorgeous creatures in my yard, I snap photos for more paintings by Carol May

    Butterfly Paintings

    What a joy doing Butterfly Paintings! Butterflies are so awesome! When I see these gorgeous creatures in my yard, I snap photos for more paintings by Carol May

  • Shop the art store of the artist Carol May for original paintings for sale by the artist. You’ll find lively and colorful original oil and watercolor paintings.

    Original Paintings for Sale by the artist

    Shop the art store of the artist Carol May for original paintings for sale by the artist. You’ll find lively and colorful original oil and watercolor paintings.

  • Animal paintings are lots of fun! Oil and watercolor paintings of all the intriguing critters God created; dolphins, koi, giraffes, sea turtles, birds and more…

    Animal Paintings of all the critters

    Animal paintings are lots of fun! Oil and watercolor paintings of all the intriguing critters God created; dolphins, koi, giraffes, sea turtles, birds and more…




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  1. Mixing colors is fun!

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