Monday, February 14, 2011

Summer Rental - SOLD


A special thank you to my blog friends who wrote & encouraged me to "just do art." No deadlines, just paint & enjoy! So I picked up the pencil & brush tonight to try a painting. Put the music on (Pandora.com) and let it just roll. Thought I would do a winter scene, since, for a change, it isn't snowing in our neck of the woods. Started the sketch and was a little stiff with the pencil, but I kept playing with the lines. It got less stiff. Then I started with the paint, and that felt a bit odd too. But I kept at it. The music kept me going. And every time that little voice in my head said "no, no, that's no good" I said "just keep going!" And it all worked out!

This little bird house has been with me for years & years. It is one of the first things I put up in the yard when I bought the house I live in. Every spring it gets occupied and multiple broods of sparrows have been born & raised in that little house.

But in the winter it sits vacant, waiting for tenants to arrive in the very early spring. In fact, the first family usually moves in during the month of March. I love watching them hustle & bustle as they collect items to line the inside nest with. Then, one day while I'm standing nearby I'll hear the very tiny peeps of the little ones that have hatched. A short time later, their heads are popping out of the opening as they call for food. And not long after that, they leave the nest, and the family moves out. Usually a second family moves in after that.

I do leave all the bird houses out during the winter. I know they have served as a refuge for some of the birds on those cold nights & during snow storms. They are out there now, covered with snow, waiting - for their summer tenants.

I will submit this to the Calypso Moon challenge. It may not get posted, as the theme this month is winter landscapes - and I'm not so sure this qualifies as a landscape. But it is definitely winter!

Acrylic on canvas, 9x12

13 comments:

Nancy Goldman said...

I'm glad your muse returned so quickly Nancie. I really like this and I think that this will count as a winter scene. After all, it does have snow, right?

Barbara said...

Your dry spell was so short-lived that I blinked and missed it. Your muse merely stepped out for a smoke. I like your birdhouse, and I'm glad you're painting again.

Autumn Leaves said...

Well, I sure can't figure it out, but that bird house actually looks cozy. I want to live in it!! It has that "over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go" feel! I love this one Nancie and I am so glad you wrestled through your angst! This is beautiful!

Linda Popple said...

I like your birdhouse, winter landscape! I'm glad you worked through and came out the other end with a great little painting! :-)

yasha said...

Glad to see you back with your paint and brush Nancie.Sometimes a break does wonders to your creativity and thats what I see here in this painting.Limited palette but such wonderful work.Loved your commentary too.

Unknown said...

Don't you just love Pandora? It's a great way to relax and keep in the mood to paint. Nice winter scene on the bird house home. Hope they have a good heater in there!

Jean Nelson Paintings and Photography said...

Welcome back to the easel Nancie. Love your little birdhouse painting. There are a few of those where I live and so I resonated with your commentary. I like that you used a tall canvas and limited palette, both make the picture. Very nice.

Gina Brown said...

Glad to see you got good advice... lovely little painting :) I've definitely gone through the same thing!

Art with Liz said...

What a wonderful painting of your bird house! And we're all entitled to 'off' time - just go with the flow when it happens and don't feel guilty about it!

Virginia Floyd said...

So glad you painted and posted! I love all your work, Nancie. I read your post about how your muse didn't show up. I also think you were suffering from burn out. I think you were pushing yourself too much. What's the fun of that? I love this painting and the story you wrote. Hope you can keep painting and having fun.

(P.S. Thank you for your kind comment on my blog.)

Paula said...

Bravo! Looks great! I'm happy for you, and it seems I should be happy for the lucky birds who get to live in such a splendid house!

Angela Sullivan said...

What a lovely little bird house and beautifully done

allyson said...

A fantastic little painting..straightforward execution and beautiful decorative layout. So nice when you push yourself and then just nail something!

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