What Remains (of Two Feet of Snow)

We had two feet of snow last weekend, setting a record for the last 100 years of record-keeping. It almost never snows before Christmas in Philadelphia, and when it does it's generally just a few inches that are gone before you can enjoy them. But not this year. At least 24 inches!

You would have thought that might have brought more birds and more types of birds to the feeder. But it didn't. There were more House Sparrows than usual but that was about it. Today was even worse.

There were NO birds. Yes no birds seen at our feeders during the entire day. The Sharp-shinned Hawk that's taken to sitting on our clothes pole next to the feeder might have some influence. But either he or a Cooper's make an appearance every few days and that never makes them disappear for the entire day. There were a few birds in neighboring yards though. Maybe they got better food for Christmas?

In any case as I looked out our backdoor I decided to do a pencil sketch of what I saw: much snow, one squirrel, a bird feeder on a pole, stone wall, four raised beds and a large Arbor Vitae, which generally hides and protects many birds.

I do want to continue to work from life. If I can't find birds to draw in this colder weather it still makes sense to try foliage, snow, earth. At some point they'll be simportant component of a scene that does contain some birds.

The work in some books I've received recently ('Portrait of a Living Marsh', 'The Silvery Tay' by Keith Brockie, and 'An Artist on Migration' by Bruce Pearson) all remind me of how much the surrounding environment can add to any art, bird or otherwise. The whole world waits to be portrayed.

I wasn't really thrilled with the pencil results so decided to embellish the drawing with watercolor. That improved it somewhat but there was still something lacking. Finally I added some final modifications with gouache heightened watercolor.

The painting still lacks many things. But it was drawn from life and portrays what I saw looking out the window today. For that I'm happy. One plodding step through 24 inches of snow at a time............

Thoughts from Famous Artists, No. 2

"I don't believe an artist can influence the solutions to ecological, or social, problems -- as soon as he tries to do that, his work becomes edifying and boring.
"But art that is sincere will bring the artist's love for his surroundings across to other people who maybe fail to see the beauty. Only in this way can an artist contribute to the solution of the problems of society -- but it is a process that takes time and often produces disappointing results."

Vadim Gorbatov in 'Portrait of a Living Marsh'

I just haven't been able to do much artwork recently. I have however been greatly enjoying a book produced by The Artists For Nature Foundation about the last remaining lowland marshes in Europe, 'Portrait of a Living Marsh.'

I don't know all that much about ANF so I'm not going to write about it. More information can be found at their website. If you go to this page, then click on 'Read more', you'll get a lengthy PDF article on ANF, full of many great illustrations and a lot of history. It may download or display in your browser, depending on how you have your browser set up.

I have to say I'm mightily impressed by this book. It includes essays on the ecology of this area of Poland, coupled with over 100 drawings and paintings by world famous wildlife artists who went there as a field expedition of ANF. They did this in the early 1990s. ANF has done many other such projects.

I have to confess that I had never heard of many of the artists, including Vadim Gorbatov, whom I quoted at top. But I have thoroughly enjoyed the artwork and the essays. There is such a feel of honest concern for nature and honest love of portraying it. I think that's why the Gorbatov quote struck me. The best way to convince others of the value and beauty of nature, or anything else for that matter, is by portraying your own love for it.

I originally posted this last night without any artwork. I just hate doing that. So this morning I did this 30 minute watercolor of a Wood Duck and ducklings at Tinicum. I can't say it's a great step forward. But it is something to look at.