- Published on
"Arrival at the Precipice" - mixed media on 300 lb watercolor paper, 22" x 15". Ready to frame. Available here and at Artfinder.
More experimentation and following the paint, leaving remnants of markings and shapes, carving back into the paint and scraping away seeking buried treasure. This process makes me jubilant! Again, that 300 lb cold pressed paper can take a beating, lots of water, scraping, carving and even sandpaper. I wonder if it would be rugged if I made luggage out of it? Hmmmm.
This week I am reading Mozart's Starling, an exquisite little book recommended by artist Dotty Seiter. I find myself gleefully racing to bed in the evening for a dose of this sweet novel. But I wondered why the universe plopped it into my hands at this particular time, when I've been on a science-fiction obsession for months.
I didn't know that Mozart kept a pet starling. This would have been at a time in history when the accepted philosophy about animals had just moved from thinking no creature but man had feelings or suffered pain to thinking all creatures were created to enhance man's
More experimentation and following the paint, leaving remnants of markings and shapes, carving back into the paint and scraping away seeking buried treasure. This process makes me jubilant! Again, that 300 lb cold pressed paper can take a beating, lots of water, scraping, carving and even sandpaper. I wonder if it would be rugged if I made luggage out of it? Hmmmm.
This week I am reading Mozart's Starling, an exquisite little book recommended by artist Dotty Seiter. I find myself gleefully racing to bed in the evening for a dose of this sweet novel. But I wondered why the universe plopped it into my hands at this particular time, when I've been on a science-fiction obsession for months.
I didn't know that Mozart kept a pet starling. This would have been at a time in history when the accepted philosophy about animals had just moved from thinking no creature but man had feelings or suffered pain to thinking all creatures were created to enhance man's
experience and therefore be tended to, treated kindly and observed. Household pets became common, including birds.
As I read the descriptions of the Mozart family's likely relationship with the bird, including cage-free frolicking when no visitors were around, I realized exactly why this book was in my hands. The anniversary of my dad's passing is next week, and he, like Mozart, kept a bird. A bird who sat on the edge of his breakfast plate and ate scrambled eggs while leaving poops on the newspaper. A bird who slept cuddled under his neck, occasionally checking his mustache and nose for interesting artifacts. Dad was a big fan of Mozart, and Jujube and my dad likely listened to Mozart while drifting off together in the chair, dad draped with a huge beach towel (or poop catcher).
When someone we love passes, it is hard to mentally place them anywhere. Something about this book (fully researched, full of philosophy and classical music) seems so dad-like. The vision of him sitting in a salon with Mozart, each with their bird shadows busily exploring from the safety of their shoulders, clicks with me as where to visualize him now. There is peace and a wee bit of closure in this thought.
And now let's enjoy another human's pet starling, Stella, as she talks, whistles and blows kisses:
As I read the descriptions of the Mozart family's likely relationship with the bird, including cage-free frolicking when no visitors were around, I realized exactly why this book was in my hands. The anniversary of my dad's passing is next week, and he, like Mozart, kept a bird. A bird who sat on the edge of his breakfast plate and ate scrambled eggs while leaving poops on the newspaper. A bird who slept cuddled under his neck, occasionally checking his mustache and nose for interesting artifacts. Dad was a big fan of Mozart, and Jujube and my dad likely listened to Mozart while drifting off together in the chair, dad draped with a huge beach towel (or poop catcher).
When someone we love passes, it is hard to mentally place them anywhere. Something about this book (fully researched, full of philosophy and classical music) seems so dad-like. The vision of him sitting in a salon with Mozart, each with their bird shadows busily exploring from the safety of their shoulders, clicks with me as where to visualize him now. There is peace and a wee bit of closure in this thought.
And now let's enjoy another human's pet starling, Stella, as she talks, whistles and blows kisses:
First, the follow-the-paint experimentation of "Arrival at the Precipice" is exquisite with its relative simplicity of composition, its I-don't-have-to-know-where-I'm-going sense of freeplay.
Second, after initially seeing "Arrival" as completely abstract, I look back, and there is my parakeet Kapiti (R.I.P.) strutting his stuff, filling the canvas, wearing his sunglasses!
Third, so glad that "Mozart's Starling"* offers up a place for you to visualize your dad : )
Fourth, your Dad-and-Jujube stories evoked so many Kapiti memories for me. A favorite: Kapiti used to sit on my shoulder nibbling my earrings and chattering while I'd read aloud to my son Jay.
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*Nonfiction, not a novel.
Who knew there was a bird in this abstract? :) And yet there he is! I see him now. Wonderful! Thank you for being there, Kapiti.
I am agog at our synchronicities, Dotty. Thank you for the gift of this book recommendation. It truly, TRULY gave me a sense of peace about my dad, and a new appreciation for starlings. xo
Your words showed me that you have found a peaceful place which isn't easy to do after the loss of our parents. Even though it is the pattern of life itself, we always feel that there is one more thing we might has asked, done, or told them..... The other day Tyller and I were sitting here and he said, look, there is a pretty cardinal. I did look, and told him, yes, Pawpaw came to visit, which promptly put a smile on his face - teaching him not to forget and to hang on the memories of those we love and cherish. Thank you!