Never has the landscape been so full of birds. Here are a few of the precious un-distanced encounters with winged neighbours.
OTHER-THAN-HUMAN COMPANY
CROWS SUDDENLY ALERT
True gesso, protein size, watercolour and beach material. image size 8x15cm. framed 28x22cm. £420
These two were tossing weed until a dog walker walked noisily along the foreshore. The birds were suddenly alert. As if one. Contact for more information.
I'm constantly bowled over by the miraculous unfolding around me. That is what prompted me to paint when I was a child. And it still is.
During 'Lockdown 1' the miraculous moved closer and grew wings...the foreground that before March was ground I habitually walked across to access somewhere else had become deliciously alive. One mile had become world.
In early June, a mis-placed step on the familiar route resulted in a bad sprain. Access was suddenly denied even to the path to the shore.
The day after the sprain, I sat with my one large foot elevated and looked out of the window onto Portland Harbour... and the miraculous moved closer still.
I can now stride again, but not without being mindful of the privilege.
This experience gives me hope that 'new' circumstance might prompt previously unavailable experiences of the world. Clouds and silver linings? I've seen lots of those this year.
Focus settles on the gap in the outer breakwater of Portland harbour. That gap occupies one percent of the picture plane defined by my window. I can hardly see it. The breakwater ‘grows’ to fill my field of 'vision'. I find myself present in the place where white waves are charging at the stone- colliding and exploding … it grows to become the subject of a painting. I access an inaccessible place from my chair. Inaccessible even with two strong ankles. Background has become foreground. Context has become subject.
Image 2:
The middle distance - within the harbour, where the waters calmed into grey...white spears of terns dive.
Image 3:
When the goldfinches send white water flying in the bird bath... I know the tiny birds have 'white-horse power' in them.
Triptych. Framed 57x35cm. Each image: 19x14cm.
Gouache, acrylic medium, fractured wing mirror glass, Sandsfoot clay on handmade indian papers. I have arranged them above as they appear above within one frame. The ant in the first photograph will establish the scale. Please contact me and I'll send a photo of them. £890
NEVER HAS THE WORLD BEEN SO FULL OF BIRDS
Lockdown inside a bubble that isn't inhabited by any other person presents its own challenges- human company for me and for many, remains behind a screen and at a distance.
However, the bubble's membrane has shown itself porous to other-than-human company. Never has the landscape been so full of birds. Here are a few of the precious undistanced encounters while I was confined to quarters. The bird bath is to the left of an old apple tree with Portland Harbour and foreshore as a back drop. I would like you, dear readers, to have first sight of them.
WOODPIGEON WITH WINDFALLS.
Portland Harbour. Recent rain. June 2020. watercolour with site materials on handmade cotton rag paper. Image size 14X19cm. Unframed image £420 contact me if interested.
BLACKBIRDS BATHING
14x19cm unframed size. 35x30cm framed. Gouache, watercolour and site earths on cotton rag handmade paper £480 framed -contact for information.
THREE BLUE TITS BATHING The spray cuts against the skyline- the stone of the bird bath was warm after a beautiful day. Gorse yellow and lime green flutters in the showers.
Watercolour, gesso, gouache and site materials on cotton rag handmade paper. June. 14x19cm unframed size. 35x30cm framed.£480.contact me for information.
COLLARED DOVE IN THE RAIN
Lightly drawn in to allow the rain to saturate the subject.
Watercolour and Sandsfoot grey clay
June 2020. Contact for more information. 14x19cm unframed size. unframed £320.
CHAFFINCHES BATHING
Lovely to see these light and busy little birds moving swiftly from bath to feeder. 14x19cm unframed size. 35x30cm framed. Gouache, watercolour and site earths on cotton rag handmade paper £480 framed. Contact for more information.
COLLARED DOVE AT REST
14x19cm unframed size. 35x30cm framed. Gouache, watercolour and site earths on cotton rag handmade paper £480 framed. I rarely have this visitor. A very different personality to the pigeon. And it just sat with its breast on the water. Contact for more information.
BLACKBIRDS IN THE RAIN
This female blackbird hung around in the water long enough to get thorougly soaked. The male is arriving.
14x19cm unframed size. 35x30cm framed. Gouache, watercolour and site earths on cotton rag handmade paper £480 framed Contact for more information
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
The following galleries are currently showing work in group shows: KEVIS HOUSE GALLERY
Lombard Street
Petworth West Sussex
GU28 0AG
I wish you all good health and good company over Advent. I've always loved the quiet waiting at the heart of this dark time of year.
Thank you for your continuing interest in my work.
from
Frances