This spring seems forever in coming, but its finally here! It’s these little discoveries of fleeting life that have always spoken to me. Bird’s nests, a fully formed plant where there was nothing, a flower that just opened it’s petals…
and of course – a sweet sleeping dog.
I spent a great deal of my childhood out in the woods and into my adulthood. I love hiking and I usually start just as soon as winter starts to let go and I will hike well into the first snow. I love watching all the changes and greeting old friends. Finding out that I am descended from a long line of farmers and artists explains why the seasons and the outdoors speak to me so deeply. There is always a secret ache in me to have a garden, to know the seasons and to brings in birds and bees and participate in a battle of the wits with furry critters (the squirrels always win!) but more than that – it’s the quiet mind in soaking up sun and listening to leaves rustle in the wind…
That is really what drives my need to make art.
And dogs.
I’ve finally picked up the bird series again with an entirely new vision. I have always loved flora and fauna paintings with a scientific bent – but wanted to take it to a more metaphorical direction. I started with a much simpler idea initially but now I’ve developed a deeper sense of story with these images. In a way I am creating visual puzzles with information that is true about each species. It does leave it open to some interpretation, however if interpreted correctly would bring an understanding of the life cycle and attributes of each bird. This is still very much in development – I need to create a consistent visual language, choose the necessary information to help with the identification of the particular bird, and decide how much and what of their story I need to tell. This is scratching my scientific side as well as my love of ancient texts and illuminated books. This piece is a first dive into the series. This in progress shot is showing some of my exploration of visual symbols, markings and composition.
Can you “read” the information? What is this telling you?
I can’t wait to see what comes next with these!
WIP Goldfinch ©2017 Julia L Powell
