Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Red Gum Maggie




My first attempt at Sue's challenge was miserable at being ordinary.  Not that the piece was so extraordinary, by any means...but rather..I created a piece depicting an extraordinary place, missing Sue's point entirely.

It did get me thinking.  And I never mentally left Australia.  When I think of what I miss.  What ordinary thing I miss most....it's the magpies.  I love their songs. I also love that they are very plain looking in their black and white suits and that they are collectors.  Gosh, it's amazing how much you can have in common with a bird ;^)  Except I can't sing.

Pardon the my amateurish camera-work in the video.




Posted by at 3:17 PM
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10 comments:

  1. Kate ThemelFebruary 26, 2013 at 3:38 PM

    Beautiful! As was your first version of this challenge. Thanks for adding the video. Hearing their song was an unusual treat.

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    1. Diane WrightFebruary 26, 2013 at 7:20 PM

      And now I can successfully post a video! Yeah! Only took me a couple hours....

      Delete
  2. Sue DennisFebruary 26, 2013 at 3:55 PM

    As I was reading your post Diane, the Maggies were singing outside! What serendipity. I love the background colour and movement in the piece, with some reference to Aboriginal painting perhaps?

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    1. Diane WrightFebruary 26, 2013 at 7:19 PM

      Yes, I tried to reference without appropriation. Thanks, Sue. I can hear the maggies in my head.

      Delete
  3. Lisa-Marie SandersFebruary 26, 2013 at 4:41 PM

    I too love the movement of this piece. How did you do the foot prints?

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    1. Diane WrightFebruary 26, 2013 at 7:16 PM

      Oh, the foot prints. I made a stamp and used some ink. Actually, I didn't like the walnut ink that I used so much so I went over them all with oil crayon. I'm so like you like it ;^)

      Delete
  4. MargaretFebruary 26, 2013 at 6:19 PM

    We have rather more magpies up here than we'd like, preying on the eggs of other birds, swooping in on road kill. They wouldn't be missed by most of us here in Central Alberta, but I do like your rendering -- especially the footprints.

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    1. Diane WrightFebruary 26, 2013 at 7:15 PM

      Yes, North American Magpies are not the same...still corvids...but without the caroling, and I don't remember those we had in California being as social.

      Delete
  5. Martha WolfeFebruary 28, 2013 at 10:43 AM

    Oh, I love magpies - ever since Heckle and Jeckle! What a great composition - so much going on! I love the lines in the background....and the flowers. The video is great idea - a unique song. The magpies here don't sing that much, I don't think. I've got a bird "surprise" for you when you're out here :)

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  6. Lin Hsin-ChenMarch 1, 2013 at 4:49 AM

    You always have interesting views and a sense of humor, how did you make it! The magpie is so cute! Lovely!

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