Monday, September 2, 2013

Courtship, Raven Style, as Revealed through Karen's Palette

This year’s Annabelle Baker Memorial Rainforest Festival Art Show themed “Creatures of Our Rainforest,” spurred Karen into a whirlwind of action -- less than a week before the big event.  It provided the perfect occasion to bring Karen's romantic side to the forefront.  How about a raven courting “party?  With the pressure on, Karen dove into her extensive collection of raven photos -- ravens hanging out at roadside pullouts in Jasper National Park, Alberta; ravens contemplating how to get under the lids of Petersburg boat harbor dumpsters; raven fledglings perched on driftwood logs on the shores of Wrangell Narrows -- begging for a remnant of a newly cleaned halibut carcass.  The images soon filled this computer screen as Karen searched for eager bachelor males and a coy raven "maiden.".

But where to put her “party.”  No, not atop a cannery roof whitewashed with the aftermath of gull and raven dinners or the back of a pick-up truck (where, like plundering Vikings, they often raid unattended grocery bags).  Yes, a lichen-covered branch.  Karen dashed off with her camera in search of the perfect tree limb.  Some luck, but she needed more.  Soon our deck was littered with branches and lichens.  The top of her desk, on which she paints, looked strikingly similar to the view of the hemlock branches out her studio window.  In fact, she could have just turned her chair around to find the perfect background.  Never mind, Karen was into her courtship painting and having fun.

Dinners were late.  OK, I must admit, Karen’s the family culinary provider.  In exchange I share kitchen duties figuring five minutes cleaning dishes is fair trade for her hour or two preparing a meal appropriate for a visiting dignitary.  So, dinners were late and when the deadline for entries in the show showed up, Karen’s ravens were only sitting on a branch that looked like it had been plucked from the sea after losing a battle with hurricane Sandy.  However, this is Petersburg where deadlines aren’t necessarily deceased.  Thus Karen delivered her completed painting, “Courtship,” hours before the show was hung. 

I sure hope it doesn’t sell.  I’d prefer to see it adorning one of our living room walls.


                                  Courtship    12 x 24 inches    Acrylic on canvas

3 comments:

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  2. The painting looks terrific in the show, Karne! Thanks to both of you for making it a special exhibit with your wonderful contributions.
    -sus

    ReplyDelete
  3. The painting looks terrific in the show, Karne! Thanks to both of you for making it a special exhibit with your wonderful contributions.
    -sus

    ReplyDelete

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