Wednesday, April 3, 2013

"Springing Into Action"...

Everywhere one looks there is evidence that Spring is in the air! Every species of bird life is "tweeting" their signature (sp)ring tones... and are engaged in their unique spring dancing marathons.Gulls in large numbers circling high above... European Starlings line dancing... one over top of the other all along the telephone wires. Robin males frenetically squawking... drive off competition. Red wing blackbird males perched on their bull rush parapets... wings spread wide to display their scarlet epaulets. Even the usually sedate mourning doves ... now paired... resort to uncharacteristically aggressive behaviours. Geese and mallards are paired and have already set up spring housekeeping in smallish swails and puddles. Soon nesting will get underway. Yup!... Spring has definitely sprung!

There are some signs that Spring is on the minds of human kind as well. While waiting for Bryn's bus to arrive at the Kingston station... I (casually)... noticed a pair of real life student "love birds" in a tight clutch.... nuzzlin' n' bussin' continuously... unaware of a throng all around them. That's a sure sign... that spring... and love are in the air! However... as I make my rounds in my daily life, I continually hear nothing but harping complaints about the cold hanging on... low water... snow coming and going... high winds... dampness and rain. Hey!... these are the perennial parts of the process which leads us out of winter and into the long-awaited idyllic days of summer.

I spend a lot of time out doors throughout winter and all of the seasons. Each and every day that I make my way "out there" to enjoy the peace and solitude which being there offers me, I usually am joined by groups of chatty... inquisitive and ever- friendly black-capped chickadees. They talk to me constantly.They engage me as one of their own... and though I am larger and am a stranger, they welcome me unconditionally to join them in their simple pursuit... of just being alive. This is the very reason that this wee bird is my favourite of all songbirds. Oh... that there more chickadee-like individuals ... in the human world! Life would definitely be a happier place to live and work in..

If Life be about "choices".... then choose to be a Chickadee!

This painting is a deeply felt tribute to my black-capped plein air pals!



The basic point of lay in has been reached.... but considerations and tweaking of details and values are still required. I was unhappy with the nebulous feel of the upper band the very top of the painting. It lets the eye escape the composition.


You will note that I pushed the detail in the treatment of the birds. I felt this necessary for two reasons. While the birds can indeed be treated somewhat broadly... they must be clearly defined in terms of the characteristics of this bird... and especially in the upside down pose of the one. I feel the treatment does not enter into the magic realism genre at all... and that the birds have a painterly flare... which is accented by the background... most definitely painterly in treatment. Birders will be looking... and perhaps they are potentially the ones most likely to buy this piece.... should I wish to offer it to the market. Not a given this morning!

Overheard in the sugar bush!

My turn pal!........

Chick-a-dee-dee-dee!.... Yummmy! Yummy!


"A Sweet Taste of Spring" - oil on toned Masonite panel - 20x16 inches

Note the extra distance achieved by simply adding yet another and more distant plane of slightly different snow cover. It combines with the ridge of bright snow just ahead of it... to stop the eye and carry it along that bright plane and back into the painting composition... as the eye pleases. It is trapped!


Happy Spring !.... to ALL!!

18 comments:

  1. This post is such a celebration of, and witness to, the arrival of spring! I'm going to miss our frequent flyers...the chickadees...who have frequented our feeder this winter. Already, I am noticing fewer numbers, but this is to be expected as they find their own sources of food.

    Man oh man, you have really captured this winter scene! The tweaking of the background really is "spot on!" It has added definition without shifting focus from the main "characters!"

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  2. Good Morning Wendy!.... Thank "You" little Chickadee... for visiting... and for this wonderfully uplifting and rich compliment!

    Those "main characters" sure do bring a lot of joy and happiness to countless people who share their path! It is so very easy to maintain a cheerful nature... share the path and wear a smile. Wish that were more chickadees in the world! Lately... in my life ... there have been too many crabby "crows"... it seems!

    My Grandfather Birrell always used to remind us:

    "If you're with the crows, then you'll aye be shot at!"

    Choices ... I guess!

    Good Painting and Happy Spring Wendy!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  3. Hi Bruce, it looks good. I think the distant band of snow helps as well by making the background a bit cooler. The foreground has more of the warm colours now, increasing the sense of depth.

    All the best,
    Keith

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  4. Bruce - chickadees are certainly one of my favorite birds...they never seem quite as skittish as the other birds. In fact there are times when I am filling the feeders that I could reach up and touch them. This is a beautiful painting...I love the way you captured the one upside down. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Hi there Keith!... Thank you for your visit and estute critique! Looks like my mission was accomplished... as intended with the interplay of warm and cool colors and complementaries!

    I am pleased with the result! Another tick off the "wanna do" list!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  6. Hi there Debbie!... Thanks for visiting and for offering your own experiences with these masked friendlies! They sure do tug at one's heart with their trusting and friendly nature!

    Glad that you enjoyed my spring tribute to them!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. This is beautifully painted, Bruce!! You should be so proud of this piece...I love the texture as well.!!!

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  8. Hi there Hilda!... Thank you for your visit and very gracious compliments!

    I am very proud of this piece... it was one of those rare pieces which fairly seems... "to paint itself"!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. Ah Bruce...I just love the way you think AND the way you paint.

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  10. Good Morning Sherry!... Thank you for your encouragement and presence on my journey! "You" are a chickadee... as can be noted in your friendly presence at so many sites!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  11. You've got a winner here! A breath of fresh air and a tribute to the birds you have been enjoying so much at your feeders! Love Allie xoxoxo

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  12. Hi there Allison!... What a "breath of fresh air"... to hear from "You" here!

    I so enjoy and gain great pleasure from simply watching the birds at our feeders. The chickadee has always been a constant friend in my plein airing forays over the years. I have wanted to paint a tribute of sorts to them for a long time. So combining them with my love of boiling and gathering sap seemed appropriate as well an important part of my spring celebration each year.

    Look forward to our get together and catch up on Thursday! Lots to talk about before you head off to Venice to teach the Summer School!

    All my love always!
    Dad
    XXXXXOOOOOXXXXX

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  13. Happy Spring time to you too Bruce. Interesting to read about you working outside even in incredibly cold temperatures. You must really feel at peace within the landscape. Your bird painting is really lovely.

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  14. Good afternoon Caroline!... Thank you for dropping by and for offering your supportive comments and encouragement!

    Cold temperatures are minor nuisances when one uses their head... dresses for the weather that is forecast... prepares... picks and chooses wisely the days they paint en plein air and does some preliminary scouting about! It's all about making proper preparations to paint... to bring success and satisfaction!

    I refer to plein air painting as "beside still waters..." Being "out there" really does restore my soul and creative energy!

    Happy Spring to you Highland Lass!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  15. A great post and a great painting Bruce. The first thing I noticed about your painting was how much like our 'Tits' your 'Chikadee's' are. Noting the similarity yet also realising the 'Chikadee' is not an exact match for the 'Blue Tits' and 'Great Tits' that habit my garden, I reached for my Bird books. Sure enough, there it is ... the 'Coal Tit' ... a dead-ringer for the Chickadee. Gorgeous little fellows. ;)

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  16. Hi there John!... Thank you for visiting and for sharing your own birding information and passion!

    I'll have to do some further research to check out your comparisons... interesting! Such gentle creatures... a real treat always when you meet them. They never fail to leave you smiling... and feeling uplifted... like some people - "You" being one of those "rare birds" in my books! Thank you for your Friendship and connection!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  17. Very interesting to hear how you resolved this painting. While visiting with a friend in Minnesota I got to see a myriad of native species that came to feed at a table right next to a window and such pretty ones they were too and of course lots of chickadees.

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  18. Good Morning Diana!... Thank you for taking the time to visit and for leaving an encouraging comment!

    Birds... anywhere... can find their way into our lives and bring rich pleasure and joy to our lives. They have always been a part of my life...especially when painting en plein air. They have little fear of us when we are away from the usual din of noise and that we humans often create. A great pastime!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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