Paintings by Dianne Mize

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Third Wren Study

"Third Wren Study"    7" x 10"   Watercolor on Paper
$125 
Here is my third study of the Carolina Wren I spotted at my bird feeder.  Scan down to the previous two posts to see the other two.
     One of the joys of spring unfolding is the busy activity of our feathered friends building their nests, laying their eggs and keeping vigilant watch of their future progeny.   A bird feeder usually guarantees that its visitors will choose a nearby area for their nest and continue to show up, but once I began the studies the wren disappeared.   Until then, he was a regular visitor.
     One thing I have learned from these studies:  it is better to video them rather than take still shots.  By doing so, I am able to watch the video repeatedly enabling me to register their gestures and expressions, so important to how I interpret them.  And, too, in the case the subject goes away, I have a more complete record of whatever it was that drew me to it.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Second Wren Study

"Carolina Wren, Study II"    10" x 7"   Watercolor on Paper
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This is the second of the watercolor series of studies I am doing from a video I made of a Carolina Wren at my bird feeder.  The first study was done before the greens filled out in my woods.  This study shows the wren in an environment of spring greens.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Carolina Wren: Beginning of a Series

"On Alert"     7" x 10"    Watercolor on Paper
$125 plus S/H
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This is the first in a series of studies I'm doing of a Carolina Wren who has been visiting my bird feeder.  I was able to shoot a video of this little guy, then capture a number of still frames of his movements.  From these stills I have been doing a number of gesture studies.





What I'm trying to accomplish here is an immediacy with this little bird.  I have spent my career focused on the creative process, with my most recent focus being on the way we artists compose our work.  Now, I'm giving my attention to pure immediacy:  what happens when I respond to my subject without thought, with the only goal being to tune in to how I am responding.  Nothing more.