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Tuesday, January 19, 2021

The wee Western Grebe

 

Western Grebe, 12x16, oil

This juvenile Western Grebe was seen in Washington Park here in Denver where we often see birds stopping by on their migratory journey. It is rare to see a grebe, though, so it was a day to note. I took a number of photos before this was immediately 'the one' to render in paint. The patterns in the reflection reminded me of  a tapestry or damask fabric. Verifying that it was a Western grebe took me some time before I stumbled on a photo of a juvenile. Then it was Bingo! I knew the beak was right, not that I am a birder.

 

I started off painting over an ugly snow scene I had done a few years back from my office window on Lowry. Not a beautiful view, but it was 'my' view. I started out figuring out where I wanted the bird, and since I wanted the bird to stand out I flipped the painting upside down so I could keep my eye on it while developing the water around it. . Then started to indicate the movement. This next image was taken under lights in the evening hence the different lighting, but I am using it to show how I started to build up the water thinking in shapes and leaving negative space. It might have been easier to paint the water a solid color and then add the reflection but this is how I see: very abstractly with shapes and negative space.

I was thinking of a title using a tapestry term as the water does have a somewhat damask feel to it. Yet nothing is sounding good to me. If you have any ideas for a title besides my uninspiring Western Grebe, I would love to hear it! Many thanks.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Of course seeing a work of art online is not the same as seeing the real thing, but where you saw a tapestry, I saw an engraving, and a poem.

Graven on blue water
A grebe

From Merriam-Webster:

grave verb (1)
graved; graven\ ˈgrā-​vən \ or graved; graving
1a : to carve or cut (something, such as letters or figures) into a hard surface : ENGRAVE
graved the dates of his birth and death on the headstone
b : to carve or shape with a chisel : SCULPTURE
2 : to impress or fix (a thought, a memory, etc.) deeply

victoriasart said...

Thanks anon for stopping by with such a thought out title suggestion. I am liking the poetry aspect which you lightly touched upon. I like Graven on Blue Water as well. So, how many people will the word "Graven" send to the dictionary do you think?