Birds Feeding Up!

A few shots I took of a sparrow and starling. When a sparrow eats it's interesting to watch it flash its tail out faster than a blink of an eye.

Caution Tape

Today I took some nice photos of birds on the close-up feeders my dad made. I am going to enjoy this prospect for up close and personal sketches of live drawing, which is always refreshing; or in the words of artist Gendron Jensen, "Look into, rather than at." It's important to have this intrinsic knowing of what you are trying to articulate if you are passionate about it. I saw starlings, pheasants, downy and red-breasted woodpeckers and blue jays to name a few. I will post a few images soon. I found a couple other excellent birding spots on my runs recently. Furthermore, I am excited for an upcoming opportunity to draw with artist Jim Rataczak in the next few weeks. With school being cancelled it just sure was nice to sit on the chair and watch birds for two hours. I like quiet, I like musing, I like intimately observing such beautiful natural things and the endless possibilities. Every so often I will find some interesting curiosity on my run and find reason or purpose to draw it. I keep a numbers/quantitative running log, but it's fun to keep a visual one too. I see a lot and it gives a person time to do a lot of personal reflection. In any case it's nice to do some quick drawings which is the opposite of my major pieces of work, particularly the three I have going right now. The drawing below goes as follows: Titled: Caution Tape Medium: Colored pencils on Punjab paper size 11"x14" I found this on one of my long run loops I do on the weekend. I call this loop the "river bluffs", or the, "bridge to bridge loop." I cross the lift bridge on the Minnesota side and run to the Interstate bridge that crosses from Wisconsin back to Minnesota. In the last two years two people have take the leap of faith off that bridge. Both times they were in the winter close to new years. One, who left a young ones behind. Being a teacher you hear a lot, see a lot, and spend more waking hours with kids than parents most times. I ran into her recently, her spirits seemed good, but one wonders what must be going through her mind. This year, it was a 37 year old man on new years eve. Over two weeks later I did this loop again. Crossing the bridge I ran past the first crippled looking cross hanging on for dear life in the blustery wind. About twenty yards down a piece of caution tape was hanging from the steel grate guards overlooking the St. Croix River. Through the grates I could see the rescue/diving crew on flat bottom boats trying to fish out the body after weeks of relentless search. This piece of tape broke off and was fluttering down the bridge's pedestrian pathway in front of me. I picked it up. I am not much for giving advice. I don't feel validated and probably never will. I am always learning and I will until I hopefully have enough strength to stumble into the Superior National Forest on the north shore or into Lake Superior. Where a better place for a man to meet his maker in the eyes, than in the wilderness. It's too bad this fellow who decided to end it all so abruptly could not have experienced the run. I have never met a problem a good long run could not solve. I'll post some more running journal drawings and my progress on the bigger ones. Be well.

Pileated Woodpecker

Some recent photos I took of two old trees punctuated in repetitive fashion courtesy of one of my favorite birds, the pileated woodpecker. The pileated is frenetic in its daily business as it vociferously hammers away with its large bill to poke out grubs and insects buried in old and dead trees. He wears a magnificent crimson red cap that is shaped like a wedge. He's also a near facsimile of the presumably extinct Ivory billed woodpecker of the Ozarks. The pileated is a beautifully large bird and is attracted to suet. I highly recommend inviting this chap to visit your feeding stations. I am currently working on my next drawing, but in the meantime, enjoy some fine bird art and commentary by Chicago artist and Nationally acclaimed, Tony Fitzpatrick.

Fibonacci's Nest

Title: Fibonacci's Nest Size: 18"h X 24"w Medium: Graphite pencil on paper Year: 2013 This is the first drawing of my new series of natural curiosities I have encountered in nature. I am already excited to start the next drawing. This particular drawing is of a robin's nest that was on my American smoke tree outside my house. Robin's will migrate back to their same nesting locations each year. Sometimes they brood up to three times and always make a new nest for each brood to avoid parasites and other insubordinate variables. They pick each individual twig, grass, and other suitable natural and unnatural material by their beak. Each piece is carefully laced and woven almost in a perfect nautilus fashion. The robin secures the structure even further with mud which they carry in their mouth and pack along the base of the nest. This drawing too nearly 50 hours and it made me appreciate the artistry of not just the robin, but unique and diverse bird dwellings as a whole. I apologize for the poor quality of this photo as it was quickly taken with a point and shoot camera.

Fibonacci's Nest detailed shots

Some close shots of my drawing, "Fibonacci's Nest". My apologies for the poor quality, as I used a point and shoot digital camera to quickly snap these. This drawing along with two drawings from my last series can be seen at the 45th Parallel exhibition at the Phipps Center for the Arts. I also have three running journal drawings that relate to the show's theme at the Hudson Public Library across the street.

Next Friday is the opener for the annual 45th Parallel exhibition juried show. I will have three pieces on display including my newest piece (Fibonacci's Nest). Three more pieces will be in the connecting gallery across the street, which are some running journal drawings from a route along the 45th parallel. Hope to see you there!