Samantha

Samantha 6 x 6 inches, oil on Gessoboard

Collection of the Artist

A bird flew high, fast and hit one of my two large studio windows. It was such a horrible noise. While I was running down my stairs to go outside and check, I was hoping against hope that the bird would be just stunned, but she broke her neck and passed very quickly.

Seeing this bird on the ground and knowing how she died, I was in shock. A flashing thought that Cardinals mate for life brought my heart down even more. Then the artist in me couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. I studied her feathers, her eyes and decided I would feel better if I made a painting of her. She wasn't given a name in life, but I gave her the name Samantha.

The pose is from a photographic source. I chose this pose because of the gesture, almost like the bird is asking why are you sad? Samantha's unique coloring is what I wanted to capture and I'm thankful that I have a measure of artistic skill to create a painting of her. But my thinking I'd feel better when finished didn't happen.

I'll wait for her painting to dry, get it framed and then Samantha will be on our living room wall along with my other favorite paintings. In the meantime, I taped a sheet of white copy paper in the middle of each studio window. Now, birds won't be tricked by the windows reflecting my woods.

Comments

The Rare Snowman

The Rare Snowman, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel Sold - Thank you! It's a warmer day today and the one snowman in the neighborhood is not faring well. In addition to melting he's got a problem with one of his twig arms. I take Cooper & Cookie for short walks several times a day and when I saw what was happening to this guy, I knew I had to make a painting of him. While returning home, I pondered how many snowmen are not created because of video games. I know that I don't see them much at all.

Two Snow Cones

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Sold - Thank you Every now and then, I get humbled at the easel. Like all artists, I have a love-hate relationship with it. This painting was inspired by a recent trip to the doctors. I've seen these shacks many times and each time I say: "I need to pull over and get a picture" followed by, "I'll do it next time." Sound familiar? Well yesterday, I pulled over and got the picture. When I got home, I was very excited to begin painting. The Easy-Peasey, this will be a piece of cake attitude was as thick as cigar smoke. I started out very worthy of my swelled head, but believe me, it went downhill. It's amazing how quickly I can turn on myself. It started by reminding myself how much housework I have, before I took my next breath, I reasoned that I could have made a nice dessert, cleaned the house, changed the oil in my car and put on a new roof on the house. I walked out of the studio convinced I

Nuthatch for Spring

"Nuthatch Calls for Spring" 5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board - Sold OK, update on the weather for the Finger Lakes area of NY. Snow-COLD...not just cold! I've been complaining about winter and just like any other time I complain about weather, nothing changes. So I decided to paint a little bird today. Lots of them still at my feeders. I've been saving my dryer trap lint for them to soften the nests that are sure to be built. I'll be putting that out in an netted bag in two weeks. So Spring will get here...just not in the next two weeks or so.

Brande Arno Art

Search This Blog