Pine Siskins – Stories in My Mind

My Observations–From the Bird Watcher

Finally, I get a word in edgewise. Lately, Kara has been hording this blog. I think she’s forgotten that I get first billing here, note the name, “The Bird Watcher & The Artist.”

I actually just want to take a minute to apologize to the Pine Siskin. In the painting, Feuding Siskins, I depict them as feisty, hyper, unruly little birds, which they are, but there is another side to them as well.

"Feuding Siskins" First painting in The Bird-Watcher Series. — Here I am, amongst the “Feuding Siskins” First painting in The Bird-Watcher Series.

In my defense, several years ago when I was first introduced to them there was a flock of 20-30 birds that would fly into our feeders and proceed to fight and peck for food, chattering the whole time. It was a constant mayhem of activity. I’d missed seeing them the last couple of years but this fall a few came back–only six–and wintered over. They are much calmer when there are only six. Yes, every once in a while they have a squabble but nothing like the feuds they had as a larger flock. So please, Pine Siskins, accept my apology for making you out to being little fighters when you are also lovers. Thank you!Continue reading “My Observations–From the Bird Watcher”

Nostalgia

Recently, I came in from my studio for a drink of water and noticed a group of birds at our feeders that I hadn’t seen in a couple of years. I was so excited that I sent a text to my husband, “The Siskin’s are back, the Siskin’s are back!” Observing them a few seconds longer I noticed something was wrong, they were way too calm and there were too few of them to be Siskins. It was at that moment that I was reminded the very reason I was inspired to paint The Bird-Watcher series.Continue reading “Nostalgia”

An Unlikely Bird Watcher

It was early winter, 2010. I was sitting back taking in the sights, high up on a shelf filled with porcelain elephants, pine cones, old plates, marbles, doll heads, moss and so on, when I was picked up with curious purpose and roughly examined, head swiveled, legs and arms twisted and turned every which way. I was plopped down, stood up, bent over, and given the once over from every direction. Finally, I was inserted right in the middle of a still life scene with a hot light bearing down on me, as if I was about to be interrogated. Again, my assailant couldn’t decide, should I stand, sit, lean or bend over? My little wooden head was swirling with questions and my body was sore from all the activity after years of inactivity. What was I doing here? Then, just as my eyes were adjusting to the light and I’d developed a tolerance to the heat, in swooped a frenzied flock of little acrobatic, inquisitive, feisty, noisy and somewhat obnoxious Pine Siskins.Continue reading “An Unlikely Bird Watcher”