Spring is definitely in the air! Bird song of every sort is almost cacophonous in the early mornings and late evenings... as males seek out mates... and establish territorial rights before the nesting gets underway.
How joyous it is on my walk to hear familiar voices... absent over the winter months. Red
Winged Blackbirds... Robins... Canada Geese by the droves now ply the stubble of the now snowless corn fields in search of early sources of food. In one group of three adjoining cornfields , I encountered a resting and feeding group of migrating Canadas... in the thousands... likely preparing for their last long push to their spring breeding and summering destinations in the northern reaches around Hudson and James Bay.
I came back the next day in late afternoon... camera in hand... but really didn't expect to find them still there. They were! And when I got out of the car they lifted. The noise of their combined voices of alarm raised goose bumps on the back of my neck... as they lifted... and kept circling... wanting to return to their resting spot. I quickly snapped a couple of pictures, then quickly got into the car and headed off... not wanting to discourage their need to resume their fuelling and resting needs. What a privilege it was to view this spectacle! A once in a lifetime event for "Me"!
Yesterday, I experienced yet another once in my lifetime event! I conducted an oil painting demonstration... live on Rogers Television Daytime... a local cable programme. My work has made a television appearance on more than one occasion... but this was the first time that I either visited a studio... or took part in a broadcast. All exciting stuff!
I decided to keep the demo in the "Spring" mode... and commited to paint... yes... you guessed it - another maple syruping picture! I used a previously painted and posted 7x5 inch pochade piece.On this occasion I enlarged the format....painted it on a black toned canvas... and transformed it into a nocturne. Things went smoothly and comfortably in both the interviewing and the painting processes combined. The interviewers really knew their stuff! I came away with a fairly decent 28x22 inch canvas that I will "tune up" after our return in April. Here's what's there ... after one hour of talk n' paint!
Well... this will be my last post before leaving for the Barbados... so here's wishing everyone...
Good Painting!... and Happy Painting! See you in April!
