Why Dead Birds?

Five years ago, a yellow shafted northern flicker flew against the reflection of a building. I studied its markings and painted the macabre.

Most people know the check in one’s spirit that occurs upon finding a bird bereft of life. It isn’t quite right to see something which should be inflight asleep.

In a time before cameras, Audubon shot and killed the birds he painted and studied. And now those deaths on paper are coveted collections. Audubon himself took no pleasure in these killings and said, "The moment a bird was dead, no matter how beautiful it had been in life, the pleasure of possession became blunted for me." (Ornithological Biography, Volume 1)

Death is not foreign to me. I have known it as a reality. Life holds sorrows that sometimes come too early. And they shape us. Truly each encounter is significant and holds meaning. These experiences have taught me that death and grief are not an end but rather a tender step forward.

Through these fallen wings, I observe, learn and am able to speak.

P.S. Bird strikes are a very real issue impacting our planet’s bird population.

She Was a Drive By Story

I’m working on an architectural painting. Not my usual rodeo. But she’s a story I drove by. The building itself is a bit of an architectural treasure to me. Possibly the only remaining Charleston Single Home original to the time still standing in Florence I’d pass her while traveling between schools last year.

I imagine at one point in time, someone else traveled a similar route to earn means through which to build this structure. Or was it handed to them, a result of another’s labor? Yet, now it simply sits, empty and unused falling into disrepair.

Watching the physical work of past generations fall to the wayside gives me pause. To me buildings in disrepair are scattered across the rural southern landscape in abundance. Like crops that were left to die. And I always wonder whose home was this? Why did they live here? Why are they gone? Was theirs a life of joy or sorrow? Who will tell their story?

Edit: April 6

fImages of competed piece..

Happy Holidays & Happy Slides

The Germans will say, “Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!” which when literally translated means, a good slide into the New Year. I find that expression so funny and when I say it, I picture people on trash can lids sliding on snow into a new year.

It is a complete visual morphing of two cultures because for one, German trash cans don’t even have the same lids as American ones do. I think this is the way my mind works often. In these strange visual word associations.

2019 contained much gold leaf in my art making and some experimenting. Perhaps I should have bought bananas and duct tape instead. Have you followed some of the news events surrounding this? So much truth there and so much absurdity at the same time.

I also revisited a few childhood fairy tale illustrations by Hermann Eichhorn this year, simply for play. They are from a block puzzle set I once played with as a child. It probably has some tape on it too.

Within the set, there were a few fairy tale scenes I always favored above others. I would make sure that when I put the box away, they would be facing upwards. And never ever, would I leave the pieces all jumbled like in the picture I included below.

As the year end approaches, I wish you a very festive holiday season and a good beginning to a new year!

Thank you so much for your investment in my art this year. If you have acquired a painting, I hope you are enjoying it as much as I enjoyed painting it. I am so happy it has found a happy home.

This image of the block puzzle set is from this Etsy shop .

PS after December 15th, the online shop will be closed for updates and a little bit of hibernation.

Stay Golden

CONFESSION: Sparkly things have been distracting me. I’m feeling as if the Golden Girls have met Château de Versailles . . . but on paper.

I’m even buying frames in gold?!?! I used to loathe gold and now, I’m finding the more sparkle the better.

Today is my birthday and I’m 44. I’m wondering if I’m attracted to the glitter shimmer to make up for the “diminishing” that middle age brings in. I now need reading glasses- especially in the mornings and evenings, back pain is a new companion of mine and well, those younger people are just so plugged in. How do they even have all the opinions they do about the planet? The world, coffee, sustainable clothing and politics??? I can’t keep up. But I want to and I’m glad they are here. They care deeply about meaningful things and know how to have a good conversation.

I guess i’m thinking about these things because this year I noticed that I am too old for certain art calls. And I had four consecutive weeks where I really could do very little due to pain. So the fact is, I’m in a new season. What am I going to do with it?

Try to embrace and stay golden, I suppose. Oh, and the yoga for the back.