Last week I set a challenge for myself - to draw/paint birds only from direct observation and memory, not from photos. This is quite a challenge because, as you know, they don't stay still for long. I've been watching birds at my feeder for a few years now. With my backyard bird guide I've learned to identify most common birds in our corner of Pennsylvania, I know a few bird songs, and with my new challenge I decided to study bird anatomy, especially their skeletal structure. I felt ready. Then, a great gift fell from the sky. The day after I set this challenge, my family found a deceased blue jay on the sidewalk near my children's bus stop. I came home as soon as I could to get to work. I learned so much from my time with this jay. I made this painting from direct observation. When I was done, I gave her a proper burial. I figured out in the following days that she was one of the regular birds that came to our bird feeders because, sadly, now only one blue jay comes when there used to be two. While I am certainly not glad that this dear bird died, I am grateful for the time I had with her and it just seems so uncanny that she came to me just when I felt ready for her.
3 Comments
Brenda
9/28/2018 08:02:26 am
She looks like she’s flying. Lovely
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Julia
10/1/2018 10:56:16 am
Thanks, Brenda! I just had to see those wings.
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11/16/2022 04:01:20 am
Entire partner third girl more plant. Watch attack customer how force put. Teacher fill situation themselves field hit.
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