standing room only

Their chests are beginning to show the red of their parents. And now they dare to stand up in the nest. Notice how the one in the back leans out and peers around the corner (top photo). I can't help but wonder what their thoughts are as they look out into the unknown. Are they timid about that first flight, or fearless?
“When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown,
Faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly”...Patrick Overton

the choir

They appear to be about the size of their parents now, and are very curious about the world around them, especially when they see me staring through the glass.
“Too many people grow up. That's the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget. They don't remember what it's like to be 12 years old"...Walt Disney

10 days old

What a difference a day makes. Up until today the young chicks slept most of the time except when they were feeding. But today they have been alert, active and for the first time, they seem to be very interested in observing the world outside their nest.
“The unknown is the province of the student;
it is the field for his life's adventure,
and it is a wide field full of beckonings"...Lincoln Steffens

The Five Fam

Because the ever wary and observant mom can see me through the glass, I try not to intrude and do most of my close-up observations while she is away. So, here I am with my nose about 6 inches away from the sleeping babies in the top photo when suddenly they open their mouths as both parents flew in together. I was so startled, I almost fell off the ladder. And once they saw me grasping for the windowsill, they were so taken aback they almost fell out of the nest. Then we all took a moment to just STARE at each other before going on our way.

Today's thoughtful quote comes from a fellow artist/St.Croix-nicity blogger, Bonnie Luria who pointed out that this series of photos is "a microcosm of the wonder that is life and motherhood. It’s almost a familial loss when they take off."
Yes, it certainly feels that way to me. My youngest son often referred to us as "the five fambiwy" when he was young.

caramel macciatti,please!

It was 42 degrees this morning so MomRobin fluffed out her feathers to keep her babies warm. This is the first time I have seen her shut her eyes-never more than a millisecond at a time, but clearly, she is dreaming of a Starbucks fix. And just when she got all settled in, Dad (top photo) arrived with breakfast and, siesta over, out she flew back to work.
"A fig for partridges and quails,
ye dainties I know nothing of ye;
But on the highest mount in Wales
Would choose in peace to drink my coffee"...Jonathon Swift

feathers

The bottom photo is what the chicks looked like at 6 days. And only 48 hours later (top photo), they are getting feathers and have grown so rapidly; they are almost spilling out over the edge of the nest!
“You must not know too much or be too precise or scientific about birds and trees and flowers and watercraft; a certain free-margin, and even vagueness - ignorance, credulity - helps your enjoyment of these things”...Henry David Thoreau

5 days old

“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best"...Henry Van Dyke

the team

Okay, first of all I apologize to anyone who is not as smitten with this little family as I am, but I'm positively obsessed at this point. From what I have read the daddy's main job is to keep an eye on the nest and protect it from predators. Well not this daddy. He flies up and scoops out the waste products (which are conveniently located in a tidy little sac) and supplies food, and mostly just lovingly stares at his sleeping brood (top photo). Then Mom flies in (bottom photo), and he flies out... a seamless and well orchestrated transition... so sweet... sigh.
"To me, the garden is a doorway to other worlds; one of them,
of course, is the world of birds. The garden is their dinner table,
bursting with bugs and worms and succulent berries"... Anne Raver

chicks

"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
and never stops at all"...Emily Dickenson

Mother's Day!

They are here! I got to watch them hatch today! The mother carefully carries out the eggshell pieces and drops them well away from the nest. This prevents would-be predators from knowing where the nest is located. She is a very attentive and hard-working mom. I feel so honored to share this tiny miracle on my window sill on this very special day for moms.
"That little bird has chosen his shelter. Above it are the stars and the deep heaven of worlds. Yet he is rocking himself to sleep without caring for tomorrow's lodging, calmly clinging to his little twig, and leaving God to think for him"... Martin Luther

Patiently Waiting

"Becoming a mother makes you the mother of all children.
From now on each wounded, abandoned, frightened child is yours.
You live in the suffering of mothers in every race and creed and weep with them.
You long to comfort all who are desolate"... Charlotte Gray

Motherhood

"I looked on child rearing not only as a work of love and duty,
but as a profession that was fully as interesting and challenging
as any honorable profession in the world,
and one that demanded the best I could bring to it."

Rose Kennedy

and now there are three!

And what a work of art her nest has become in such a short time!

What is joy?
It is a bird
That we all want to catch.
It is the same bird
That we all love to see flying
- Sri Chinmoy

the color of...

robin's egg blue
"Blues that lean toward greys are the most sophisticated and ethereal. Warming and cooling, greying and tinting, as well as neutralizing your blues by adding incremental amounts of the complementary orange, are all worthwhile exercises... Blue is an education"...Robert Genn

Mother to be

"Sweet bird! thy bow'r is ever green,
Thy sky is ever clear;
thou has't no sorrow in thy song,
No winter in thy year"... John Logan

outside my window...

"There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way
in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before"... Robert Lynd

Diana and Friend

(310) Diana and friend
This sculpture of Diana, goddess of the hunt, is the latest challenge from Karin Jurick's DSFDF. Karin suggested that drawing be the focus for this one, and I can see that I elongated the figure a bit, making her taller than the statue, but it was quite an enjoyable exercise just the same. To see other entries, please click on the link above.
“It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past"...George Steiner

earth day gratitude

I would like to acknowledge the receipt of a couple of blog-awards. The first from Becky Joy, a very inspirational "almost" daily painter from Arizona. "A Lemonade Award is given to bloggers who show a positive attitude and gratitude. It also exemplifies people who have a willingness to share their ideas, support and online friendship."
Thanks, Becky! Please check out her blog.

Also, Washington DC/Baltimore area artist Liz Holm, who inspires me both with her paintings and her big heart, has given me a "passion for painting"award. Check out her beautiful portraits, both human and doggy. "A Passion for Painting" is an award celebrating "bloggers who exhibit great attitude and/or gratitude."

Because the awards are similar in meaning, I am passing both along to the following recipients. Take a little "earth day world tour" with me as you visit these bloggers who inspire me:
Rob Ijema, from Wales love his brushstrokes and masterful use of color; his "diary of Wales" is just the most soothing and inspirational and meditative part of my day. I. am. there...
Carolyn Finnell, from Louisiana, a daily painter, working from "dawn to unconscious" inspires me with her work ethic, paintings, and humor
Terry Rafferty from New Mexico , love her compositions and ability to see the ordinary with a unique eye (check our her "things you can stack" painting, an exquisite study in subtle value shifts)
Kentucky artist Bill Guffey, a kind and generous artist who offers insight, information and humor along with his wonderful paintings
Vern Schwarz from Canada; his figure paintings are wonderful, and I love, love, love how he captures the heart and soul of the dogs he paints
California artist Edward Burton, check out his gorgeous mural; his spirit and enthusiasm for his work and life is contagious
R.Garriott from Colorado, an artist with a wonderful sense of humor; I enjoy his writing as much as his lovely work; he also offers advice about photoshop, roses, recipes; there just aren't enough hours in the day to learn all he has to share.
Theresa Rankin, an artist from Missouri who calls herself "just another daily painter" ...definitely not ordinary at all, check out her exquisite work and see for yourself
No pressure to participate, but if you choose to do so, here are the rules:
1. Post the logo on your blog

2. Nominate at least 7 blogs that show great gratitude and/or attitude

3. List and link your nominator in your post

4. List and link your nominees in your post, and let them know they're recipients
And, as we reflect on GRATITUDE for what the earth offers us today, I felt this quote says it best:

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us"...Albert Schweitzer

a slice of sky

(309 dogwood photo 4)
"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard"...Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day. To see ways to celebrate Earth Day tomorrow, click here.

a sliver of spring

"He knew a path that wanted walking;

He knew a spring that wanted drinking;

A thought that wanted further thinking"...

Robert Frost


(308) dogwood photo 3
LOVE that quote...and I find that my "further thinking" today involves experimenting with design, color and composition for this series of photos.
Like Robert Frost, I find that spring challenges me to try out new things,
see the old with new eyes,
search for new paths,
and mix and match
in fresh new ways...

after the rain

(307)
“It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you DO want,
but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”...Mark Twain

dogwood winter

(306)
"Twas Easter-Sunday
The full-blossomed trees
Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Wasculwy Wabbit

(305) Bunny
5 x 7
This little guy loves to rustle through my roses and play hide and seek with me. I usually just see his (her?) tail sproinging through the air, but yesterday he just sat and sat, no doubt pondering about the coming of spring.
"You don't take yourself too seriously if you can wear your bunny slippers and laugh at yourself a little bit"...Bunny Warner

duo exhibits!

The painting on the left was accepted into the Central South Art Exhibition/National. It is the first national level show I've been juried into, so I am pretty excited. Actually, if I am truthful, I've done a little screaming (but my dog's pained expression convinced me to take it down a notch...)
The show opens on May 1st and runs through the end of June at the Tennessee Art League in Nashville, Tennessee.

Also, I am honored that the painting on the right received a merit award last week at the "Women in the Arts" show, and is currently at the Capitol until the end of this month.

Actor Jimmy Stewart was nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award five times, but won only once. Explaining how supportive his family and friends were, he said “After the awards, my father called me up and told me that the man from Johnstown had put all kinds of signs in the theatre saying, 'This year's Academy Award winner...(because my father had said I was going to win.) And I didn't. But this guy asked if it would be alright if he took the Oscar and put it in the lobby with a sign saying, 'This is what it would look like if he had won'...(another reason to love Jimmy Stewart)

surf 'n turf

(304) 6x8, oil
This is my entry for Karin Jurick's Diff'rent Strokes fro Diff'rent Folks. Since she chose a beach scene this week, how could I resist? Click here to see all the entries.
"Look at light and admire its beauty. Close your eyes, and then look again; what you saw is no longer there; and what you will see later is not yet"...Leonardo da Vinci

The coast is clear

(303) 6 x 8, oil
"People ask me what I do in winter when there is no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring"...Roger Hornsby

Spring Break

(302) 24 x 30
I painted this larger figure painting from a photo of my sons when they were younger.
I read with keen interest Karen Appleton's post about exploring that small spark of inspiration that suddenly hits you out of nowhere--and then trying to figure out the best way to incorporate it into your work...weeks, months, even a year later. Thinking about how we are inspired, I realized that I used to think I was the only one who held onto tiny snippets of ideas that evolved into paintings in my head waiting to see the light of day, until I read Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit". As I have mentioned before, Twyla writes about the importance of gathering little sparks of inspiration from a wide variety of sources, never judging or over-thinking them, but instead placing them in boxes to be studied later when she analyzes how they all fit together.
Also, I saw a fascinating Marc Jacobs documentary last year where he studied other designers's work and gathered materials/fabrics/clothing from various sources/eras, and then put them together in fresh, new ways to create his fashions. For example, to explore circle shapes in design, he took his inspiration from colorful macarons he saw during lunch. (Cookies as inspiration--you can't go wrong with that!) He and his design team then playfully arranged circles on flat drawings of purses, allowing them to visualize fresh color combinations, composition ideas, and how to best design the negative spaces created by the circles...I LOVE THAT--what a wonderful reminder that art should be fun, and that the best sparks of inspiration come simply from noticing and being curious about the world around us!
"You need regularly to move from the assembly line and simply surrender to your intuition, and you need to be guilt free about it. While maybe a seeming distraction, it's the elixir that gives energy and courage to the roll of your production and your life in art. The penchant for exploration has a great deal to do with innate curiosity. Artists have curiosity in degree--some are all output and no curiosity, others are all curiosity and no output. For those who would care to evolve, this is one case where you need to be in the middle"...Robert Genn

Wired

(301) Wired
8 x 8
The beach...a spot where you could listen to the sound of the waves, talk with your friends, read a book...or just tune it all out, and listen to your ipod.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what inspires us, what catches our eye, and propels us to discover renewed enthusiasm about the creative process- so I was especially enamored with this quote:
"Let your hook be always cast. In the stream where you least expect it, there will be a fish"...Ovid

Truth

(300) Truth
private collection
6 x 8, oil
If I incorporate last post's exercise into this painting, the words describing this young man would be: modest, respectful, wise-beyond-his-years, kind, humble, and unassuming--a lot of words for such a small painting? I find that I most enjoy painting figures who are engaged in an activity, or in some way interacting with their surroundings. Painting a relaxed, natural pose allows me to focus on capturing a gesture, a likeness, a fleeting truth, a moment in time. And to me, painting a figure from this angle creates some degree of mystery, inviting the viewer to ponder such questions as: who is this young man? what are his thoughts, hopes, dreams, wishes as he looks out onto that sparkling, vast body of water?

“To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be"...Rachel Carson

Love

(299) Love
private collection
6 x 8, oil
I have taken a couple of workshops with Nashville artist Roger Dale Brown, a very humble, kind and helpful instructor. He observed that a common mistake artists make is when we anxiously jump into painting without first defining our goals. Explaining that it is not enough to just say to yourself "I want to paint this subject because I like it" he suggested that we take the time to discern why. So, before picking up a paintbrush, he carefully chooses a word or words that best describe how he feels about his subject. This exercise requires him to define his intentions, and by repeating those words to himself while painting, he is more likely to remain mindful and maintain his original focus--sage advice for the rest of us. Because Roger and the young man in the painting are of similar demeanor, I was reminded of this contemplative exercise before beginning this painting. So, to describe my subject, I chose as my "mantra": caring, thoughtful, mindful, kind, loving, and generous. If you are an artist, try this exercise next time you paint, and see what it reveals to you.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around"...Leo F. Buscaglia
And, spreading the love, here are two new blog discoveries that I want to share with you. Jala Pfaff is a wonderful artist from Boulder, her adept use of color makes her portraits simply stunning. And if you enjoy a peaceful respite from your busy day, take a moment to check out this clever haiku/photography site A Haiku a Day...The January 14th entry is a favorite, she said stretching toward the sun....there is so much out there to be inspired by every single day. I just LOVE that!

Joy

(298) Joy
private collection
6 x 8, oil
In these chilly February days, I find myself longing for the sights, sounds and smells of the ocean. But since I can't be there in person right now, I will assign my paintbrush the duty of transporting me to a place where this little "model" appears to spread joy wherever she goes.
"The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world's joy"...Henry Ward Beecher
And speaking of joy, artist Tracey Mardon sent me links to these super inspirational painters, so I am spreading the joy and passing them along to you! Please check out Miro Sinovcic and Jennifer Woodburn. Their exquisite paintings are full of light, bliss, chi, and did I mention JOY?

I Heart Art...

(297) I am honored and thrilled to say that my ballerina painting took second place last evening at our annual ArtWorks Exhibit! Special thanks to Gallery at 916 for hosting the event. I feel everyone is a winner because we are blessed to have such a skilled, mutually supportive and accomplished group of artists (who also happen to be a fun bunch to party with). If you live in the area, stop by and see our exhibit. Closing date is March 27th.
"A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,
A song is no song 'til you sing it,
And love in your heart
Wasn’t put there to stay -
Love isn’t love
Til you give it away"...Oscar Hammerstein

Be the Light...

(296) Anticipation
private collection
8 x 10, oil
In this painting, the ballerina and rug are bathed in a light that bounces and illuminates its surroundings. There were two light sources; a splendid challenge where the light takes center stage, becoming a play-within-a-play .
"Plan your hours to be productive.
Plan your weeks to be educational.
Plan your years to be purposeful.
Plan your life to be an experience of growth.
Plan to change.
Plan to grow"...Iyanla Vanzant

The color of light...

(295) Luminescence
9 x 12, oil
"You have your brush, you have your colors. You paint paradise, then in you go"......Nikos Kazantzakis