#37: Gambel's Quail

A huge (for me) 30"x40" canvas in acrylics I did for my mom. Because she wanted a quail. And she consented to my somewhat colorful, abstract vision.

The Gambel's Quail could almost be Arizona's state bird. Which it is not (the Cactus Wren gets that honor). But they are everywhere. It's another one of those desert birds that are so common that 95% of the population here do not even take notice of them anymore, as the males dart out in front of our cars onto the road, then hurriedly usher their covey back to the safety of the sidewalk, their black hairpieces bobbing in indignation.

I wrote a poem about the Gambel's quail once upon a time. Something about how overdressed they are for a life of scratching about in the desert sand for food. But I can't for the life of me find that poem. Probably just as well! There is only so much of my creativity I should be shoving out into the world, after all.

#36: Gulls

A 4-panel mixed-media seagull montage. On 12x16 canvas panels I had prepped a long time back with the background in acrylics and oils. I finally finished them tonight (as I was watching the Oscars) by sketching on them with oil-based Sharpie paint markers I found on sale at Home Depot.

I have no idea anymore what type of gulls these are supposed to be, as I was using a sketch of a photograph I've since lost. They were probably Bonaparte Gulls from California. There are few things more beautiful in this world than a flock of seagulls taking off in a flurry of white from a wet beach into the blue sky.

Initial drafts, p1-6

Although I have the plot all written out, I haven't gotten terribly far in painting the plates for my children's book. Maybe if I post a few of my initial drafts, it will inspire me to work on it some more.

My thought is to start off in faded colors, moving to more vivid, bleeding colors as the story progresses. Although I do plan to paint pages 1-2, these are the pencil sketches in my little notebook I'm starting from.

Another "Bird Jar" - for children

Last week, I came across something I wrote almost ten years ago about an idea for a children’s book, involving hummingbirds and desert trees. The story idea was to illustrate "the beauty of new enthusiasm."

I laughed. I am the QUEEN of "new enthusiasms." How many hobbies have I picked up over the years, all gung-ho at first, and then they peter out. How many "identities" have I tried on and then ripped back off?

But then I thought about it some more, and the idea took hold of me.

New enthusiasm... It IS beautiful. And tenuous. Fragile. And, by its very nature, fleeting. When we come across it, we should embrace it, celebrate it, support it! Because it won’t be around for long. But what happens, what we frequently do, is poo-poo it. Criticize it. Shame it. Make fun of it. Or fear it. We are denied (or deny ourselves) the pleasure of having it around for that little bit it will be there. And when it is squelched into a premature death like that, there is little chance of lasting beauty to be produced from it.

So, about a hundred hummingbird sketches later, I think I have my "characters." I have the plot. I even have the dialogue. Now it's time to hammer it out. And hope that this will maybe become more than just one more passing "enthusiasm" with nothing to show for it!