Art in the Time of Covid-19

Like everyone else on the planet, I am stuck at home, limiting my outdoor ventures to the grocery store and delivering groceries to my at-risk in-laws. I have baked countless loaves of sourdough bread, started a small vegetable garden, painted the bathroom, purged my storage and completed a variety of jigsaw puzzles. Being an artist during this quarantine isn't the worst thing. I have started and finished several paintings, including a 30 x 40 commission for some friends of mine. For a painter, time indoors, in-studio, is time well spent.

To give special meaning to my painting, I decided to embark on a project that would 1.) Contribute to an organization that is helping people during the Covid-19 pandemic, 2.) continue to sharpen my painting skills, and 3.) Create a painting series on a topic that I am passionate about. From that criteria, my Bird-a-Day Series was born.

I have been a lover of birds as far back as I can remember. In the summer when I was four, I spent a lot of time, circling the backyard patio on my red tricycle, enjoying the great outdoors. That same summer, my mother installed a bird feeder in our backyard. It was a cute plastic contraption on a pole - the top was a sunflower and the birds could gather around the edge of the feeder to feast on sunflower and other seeds. Thus, birdwatching became another of my daily pass times. One morning, as I sat on my tricycle, honking the horn, a young finch landed on the handlebars, and curiously stared up at me. We were both surprised, and I was instantly smitten. I named him Charlie Bird and much to my pleasure, Charlie became a regular visitor to my trike. I don't remember how long he would stay each time, but I do remember on many days that summer, I would honk my horn and he would come to me. Over time, at his own great risk, he began to fly in and perch on my shoulder. (For any doubters, I have pictures to prove it.) I excitedly told my neighborhood friends about Charlie and his highly unusual visits, Naturally, they were initially skeptics. In an effort to give credibility to the story, I promptly rode my tricycle over to their house, honked my horn, and Charlie arrived. My friends were duly impressed. They honked their own horns, in an effort to lure Charlie to their tricycles, but Charlie would only come to me. Sadly, as the summer wore on, Charlie came less and less frequently, eventually he stopped appearing for good. I choose to believe that he began to instinctively understand how a wild bird should be leery of ALL humans, and he set off for higher ground. "The Summer of Charlie" is one of my fondest childhood memories.

From that summer on, I was hooked on birds. Over the years, I have had many birds as pets. My Cockatiel named Charlie (as a tribute to the original), A pair of lovebirds named Marlene and Edward and two unnamed finches that spawned many more over their lifetime. When I was a teenager, I begged my parents for a Cockatoo, and I was denied. In retrospect, it was for the best because Cockatoos are very loud and I suspect that my neighbors (and my future husband) would have lost patience with the constant squawking.

So it would be no surprise that I have taken a fancy to painting birds. Birds I have seen in photos, as well as my own backyard, have provided me with a dose of creative inspiration. I have begun setting aside time each day to paint birds in my own signature style. I unearthed a box of 4" x 4" canvases in my supply cabinet, and they have become the foundation for my paintings. I chose San Diego Food Bank as my charitable beneficiary because they provide food to needy San Diego residents, and with so many people out of work, the food bank's needs have increased dramatically .

I have started posting one painting each day on social media, and every week, I will post a photo summary. I am charging $15 for each painting. The price covers the cost of materials, shipping and it provides for a $5 donation to the charity. I encourage you to pick your favorite bird, and know that by purchasing, you are helping hungry people get their next meal. If you have a particular species you would like to see, please send me a message with your request.

Please Stay Home and Stay Safe!

#birdaday, #dailypainting, #covid19, #togetherforeverasone, #stayhomestaysafesavelives