Drawing

An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.
William Bernbach


The newer paintings are stacked in a corner. Dust settles on their edges as it does everywhere in the house, a bane of the East Mountains. The other day I bumped into them and they had a dry sound not unlike last winter leaves pilled in another corner mulching down into something else. There are too many paintings sitting around.

I seem to have come to a dry spell, this has certainly happened before, where the paint and I have nothing to say to each other. There are stretchers waiting for canvas, there is canvas waiting for gesso, but I do not see them. I just walk on by.

On my drawing table lies the new obsession, my birds. Graphite alter egos of times and pleasures from a distant memory that lies on the edge of morning.

I was raised with birds; Macaws, Toucans, Yellow headed parrots, little Lori’s. Practically free for the asking in South America when I was a child. They were my friends, especially the macaws with whom I had a special bond. When I left for college, the birds mourned their loss of me, and died. It was so very sad, I cried for days.

My birds now live again. They are avatars of the alter egos of artist friends who have agreed to allow me to use their personalities. It is easier to draw a situation when I can visualize the entity. The story that is being created is called “Avatars of Avilon- the lost bird adventure”. It is a story for children of all ages, writing itself with each drawing.

I have 16 done, three more are sketched out; there will be about 25, maybe more, when I am finished. Some will just be small transportation drawings, others will occupy the top or bottom of a page. I am having an immense amount of fun! I also have two consultants, two 10-year old boys who will assist with the main confrontation of good an evil. Who better to see the truth of this adventure!

These drawings unlike the other bird drawing will not be posted to absolutearts for fear they will wind up in a bookstore in some other location (as has some of my other work), or downloaded and sold. Ethics are not sacred anymore. I have always felt if you need it that badly, you may have it! But not this! I will have the book ready by late October, I hope; and will be able to offer it to those who want to smile in December.

Therefore, in the meantime, my painting will wait as I delve into a bit of magic, laughter and childlike play.

Is that not cool!