The Thing With Feathers (One and Two)

"The Thing With Feathers (One and Two)", oil on plywood, each 16 x 15 x .25 inches.  Available here, at Artfinder and at Bluethumb.

“Moving on, as a concept, is for stupid people, because any sensible person knows grief is a long-term project. I refuse to rush. - MAX PORTER, Grief is the Thing With Feathers

Both hope and grief are things with feathers.

In Porter's book, a crow represents grief, the thing with feathers, and the thing which landed in our home this week.  Our sweet girl, Lilly, is gone, and our tiny tribe of four is now three.

The Thing With Feathers (One)

The Thing With Feathers (Two)

I didn't know if or how the art could help.

Silly me.

These two paintings have been watching me, waiting for their moment, which is apparently now.  Wild things with feathers, each a set of hope and grief, encouraging and comforting.  They are odd birds which began as exaggerations of crows, and then became their own things entirely.  Which hope and grief can do, as well. 

Porter writes: “Perfect devices:...crows. [They] can do things other characters can't, like eat sorrow, un-birth secrets and have theatrical battles with language and God.” ​ Oh.  The power of feathers.

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​Congratulations to Carl S!  Wonder Mike selected your name at random to win the September Reader Giveaway!  Email your shipping address to t[email protected]  and your prize will be on the way!  Thank you to everyone who participated. :)

Something monstrous is coming in October!

THE DOWNSIDE OF LYCANTHROPY
opens Oct 1 here and at Unlimited IPA in Portland, Oregon
​
​Werewolves, vampires, monsters and more.  
​Just in time for the spookiest month of all.

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