Red Bird Painting
How about a Red Bird Painting? I will share the set up of this painting and more. But, if you are new here, check out this link for a full description of the focus of this painterly blog. Now, on to the painting, ok?
Here’s the Set Up
On a dog walk I discovered this beautiful, beautiful bird. It was on the sidewalk and perhaps had flown into a window and perished. Yes I scooped it up with an extra doggie bag I had. Then I stashed it in the freezer for awhile.
Here’s the set up!
Gotta say, I have painted some beautiful people, beautiful things and places! But this cardinal is so gorgeous. I loved painting it. This painting is 12×6 inches and painted in oils on panel.
If you get a chance, check out the poem and book by Mary Oliver of the same name. Oooh la la it’s a gem of a book. Between her poems and this beautiful creature, I was completely enthralled with painting this week! Yay!
Here are a few close ups.
The Painting
And, here’s the painting.
It’s for sale for $197 + $14.28 NC Sales Tax + $25 shipping = $236.28. Simply click on this PayPal link to purchase.
How About You
How are you gentle reader? What’s inspiring you these days? Please do share in the comments below! I would love to hear from you.
4 Comments
Beth Dyer Clary
June 27, 2024There is something gorgeous and tragic about this painting. I guess the tragic part is that the beautiful cardinal is no longer living. Sigh. However, the painting has “shades” of red I’ve never noticed in a cardinal before. Beautiful.
Also didn’t know this book or poem by Mary Oliver. Read the poem online and thought, again, she has a gift for saying much more than the simple meaning of those words, or even for what she’s observing! She reminds me to pay attention and remember there’s more than what first meets us! Thanks for this, Julie.
Julie Holmes
June 28, 2024Hi Beth, TY for using those words to describe this painting!
I love this Mary Oliver book of poems in particular because the “red bird” appears in more than one poem throughout the book. I have never seen (or read this) in a book of poems before. But it created a sense of unity, presence (just like our year round inhabitants: the cardinals) that I had not experienced in poetry before.xo
Kathy Michaud
June 27, 2024Hi Julie,
You’ve done a beautiful job painting the lovely cardinal.. I’m sad that it’s dead though.
Julie Holmes
June 28, 2024Hi Kathy,
TY! I guess I’m so grateful to have found this beautiful bird that it’s loss transcends its life somehow. So perhaps there’s a less sad way to “see” it? Not sure but hope so! TY for reading and commenting here. xo