Painting of the Month- March 2021

“There is nothing in which the bird differs more than man than in the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.”
— Robert Lynd

I love this quote by the Irish writer Robert Lynd. It's easy to see what he means. All one has to do is look at the components of a nest. Twigs, grasses, straw, mud, string, hair and feathers. These are just some of the things that can make up a nest harvested carefully by the bird from it's environment. Wouldn't it be great as humans if we could practice the same resourcefulness of the bird and be more conscious of our environment and the way in which we engage with it in our daily lives?

This painting , "Waiting for Spring", gives homage to the intricate weaving and resourcefulness of the bird. I scribe into the wax the intricate lines of the nest and then build up with layers of wax and oil pigment. I show in the subsequent images below the various stages. From raw board to almost completion.

This painting will be part of my solo show at Elevation Gallery in Canmore, Alberta opening March 27th, 2021. Sadly due to Covid I will not be attending the opening, but I will be posting a preview of the show at this link, followed by a 3D tour closer to the opening.

In the meantime enjoy the last days of winter, as we all know Spring is just around the corner!

-Susan