Creatively Thinking

  Featured image: Goldfinch Goldfinches Her arrival Her presence The fluttering of      Her wings Yellow like the sun She breaks the monotony Of brown, a beautiful      Color yes But not yellow      Like the goldfinch She brings light Goldfinches are symbolic of joy, enthusiasm, positivity, and persistence. In Christianity, these birds have a strong symbolism and are sacred. In the ancient Egyptian culture, they were personified as the souls of dead human beings. The Native Americans consider them to be symbolic of prosperity and abundance. The goldfinch was also seen as a protector against the plague. It represents many abstract ideas: genius, innocence, captivity, history, beauty, timelessness, resilience, dignity, and truth. It represents many abstract ideas: genius, innocence, captivity, history, beauty, timelessness, resilience, dignity, and truth. No wonder I just smile when they come to the feeder.

  Featured image: Amber Poppies Embracing amber   It’s warmth It’s happiness Its vibrance It’s energy It’s lite is like The light in all of us

  Featured image: Fox III  A fox visited the feeders today. Meandering around looking for food, trying to catch an occasional squirrel. She finally found her way to the back ground feeder where she found the chunk of suet I left for her the day before. It had frozen to the ground, and it was glorious watching her pounce on it to spring it loose.  Ever so cautious, darting back and forth to make sure it was safe. And then finally she scampered off with the chunk.

Featured image: Fairy Bird Fairy-wrens, also called splendid wrens, live in Australia. The incredible blueness of this wren is like sapphires with wings. Allegories surrounding these beautiful blue male birds are that they are birds that adapt to change quickly and live beautifully.

Featured image: Chukar Recently, in our local newspaper, a local naturalist of the area wrote a column about a bird he sited in his wanderings, called a chukar.   The chukar, he stated, was not local to the area, so he was surprised to see it. The chukar is a game bird whose habitat is mountainous areas. What interested me more than his words was the picture of the bird in his column.   The bird had beautiful black and white stripes on its wings. I knew I had to paint the bird and make it part of the “Allegories of the Earth” series I have been working on for my solo exhibition at New Visions Gallery in Marshfield, WI.   In the series, I am researching and creating artwork about all things natural, the earth, and what I call my, “Yes, Yes, Yeses”.   I found that to the North Indian and Pakistani culture, as well as in Hindu mythology, the chukar sometimes symbolizes  intense, and often unrequited, love . It is said to be in love with the moon and to gaze at it c...

Featured image: Under the Stars “Butte” Mesas, buttes show that layers of history repeat   over and over again   erosion, gradual wearing away of earth by water,   wind and ice.  

  Featured image: Field of Dreams Field of Red Hibiscus Flowers Hibiscus flowers are frequently linked to matters of the heart. Their vibrant, intense colors, particularly the deep red varieties, evoke feelings of love and passion. In some societies, giving a hibiscus flower to someone can convey a romantic message or symbolize the intensity of one's feelings. The hibiscus belongs to Kali, a manifestation of primordial energy. She represents empowerment, and with that, admittedly, comes destruction, making her a fierce goddess. To understand why she is tied to the hibiscus requires delving into a bit of mythology. Kali is a form of Devi, the supreme mother in Hinduism. Hibiscus encourages us to feel safe, open, and grounded within our place in the universe. It unblocks, stimulates and encourages sensuality, sexuality, and passion.