Perfect Pair

"Perfect Pair"

3x5 watercolor on arches 140

More watercolor sketches of my back yard birds. I am really enjoying the winter here at home. 

Cardinals in the Snow

"The Missus"

watercolor on arches hot press

It's my thing to see more color than may actually be there, when I paint and although this female Cardinal is looking a bit tropical, I really see these colors in her.  The male's incredible scarlet color is arresting but the beautiful golden feathers of the female are complimented by dusky purple grays and rusty maroon tail feathers. She really sparkles. 

I'm loving watching all these birds in the snow.

Winter Cocoon

find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest   

Dalai Lama

8x10 watercolor

The glorious Cardinal swoops to my feeder, the bright red of his feathers flashing, against the brilliant snow. She's beautiful as well, with her golden body and magenta markings and I notice that they are always in close proximity to one another. When I see one I look for the other.

But he is arresting, no matter how often or in which season I see him and I am thrilled each time.

My mumma loved Cardinals and her sweaters and sweatshirts were adorned with them, particularly her Christmas attire, so of course, when I see them I think of her.

She is still so present for me as I ponder her loss.

I looked online for symbolic meanings attributed to these beautiful birds and found this.

The Cardinal Cycle of Twelve is symbolic of: Cycles, life, death & renewal

• Twelve hours make a day and twelve months make a year. Twelve is a vital life cycle and regardless of the time of year, the time of day or the time of life you are presently confronting, you are a part of the cycle. You are a vital element in the circle of life and regardless of where you are in that cycle you always have the opportunity for restoration, revitalization and renewal.

*Another notable quality is that cardinals are year round residents. As they do not migrate like most other birds, cardinals represent a twelve-month cycle. Twelve is considered a powerful cycle in nature as it represents the spectrum of the seasons and the full circle of life. Cardinals also lay eggs that hatch within twelve days. Due to their twelve-month residency and their twelve-day incubation, the number twelve is strongly associated with the cardinal. 

Happy New Year

Click to Bid

I've never made a New Year's resolution that I didn't abandon soon after but I do view the beginning of the year as a blank canvas so to speak. Along these lines I plan to broaden my horizons by teaching classes in my studio starting in May when I return from Naples. Teaching is a mutually satisfying exchange in which the teacher learns from the students and I can't wait to get started!! I'll post more info on that later. I also plan to spice up my blog with links I've been collecting to the many artists I admire out there in cyberspace. Today's link, which is also on my sidebar, is to Artists Helping Artists a talk radio show by artists Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry. If you can't listen live on Thursdays all of the shows are archived and you can listen while you paint or browse the blogs. This blog has done much more than I could have have imagined when I started it. It keeps me focused and my work has improved consistently. I have to thank all of you who follow and comment and encouragement me. You make my day! Happy New Year!