New, blue bird fledgling project

My mother's birthday is coming up soon. A little too soon. I am rushing to get an oil painting done I promised her I would do. It is of a fledgling blue bird. I thought I would share him/her with you and some of the steps along the way.

This is how much I painted on it yesterday. That little guy was quite the challenge. p.s. it's maybe a little over half way done.

Here is my work space and paint palette.

A wider shot of my work space aka the dining room table. SOMEONE needs an art studio!

Here is a photo of how the bird looks in the painting book. I use the wrench to open the caps on my tubes of oil paint and to hold open the book to my spot.

The pattern is from the book; Painting Garden Birds with Sherry C. Nelson. I love her patterns and projects. The rose has quite a bit of orange/red on the petals and there are more highlights and details that need to be added to the little bird. I am hoping that the paint will be tacked up enough by Wednesday to do more work on it but if not, I can always will in the leaves and wait a little longer to do the highlights and details.
I greatly desire to improve enough to work up my own patterns from my own photo graphs I have taken. I love the creative ladies who work so hard to provide patterns and projects for the rest of us. Such brave and talented pioneers.
have you ever done a search of decorative painters and looked at their art on their websites? I have. What a treasure trove of beauty and inspiration!
Thank you, ladies!