Friday, May 10, 2013

Guy Rescues Hummingbird



source

This is a baby hummingbird I rescued after it was attacked. The song is "Better Together" by Jack Johnson.
UPDATE!!! when she thought she was ready to leave (and she was) she flew off to her favorite patch of the back yard, and her instincts instantly kicked in, and now she's just like all the other hummingbirds. for those that are concerned that she has imprinted on humans and wouldn't survive in the wild, don't worry, she is thriving. she has even successfully migrated and returned back to my yard. and for those who think i didn't know what i was doing, i did NOT feed her plain sugar water. i went outside 3 times a day and caught flies from my compost bin (be green people) in big bags, crushed them, and mixed them in as well. I also helped her learn to catch flies while flying (not in the video because the flies were too small). It was a pretty hectic but very rewarding experience and, in the end, i don't think it could have worked out any better :)

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Poppies for MK


 

All good things vanish less than in a day,
Peace, plenty, pleasure, suddenly decay.
Go not yet away, bright soul of the sad year,
The earth is hell when thou leav'st to appear.
Thomas Nash (1567–1601)

Linking to Paint Party Friday

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Silk Painting for June 2013 Hospice Silent Auction

Frog A Jumpin'

Specifications:
acid dye on silk fabric with gutta resists in colors
original size:10.5" x13.5"
matted and framed under glass; 19" x 23.5" framed

Background

Silk painting originated in China going back to 2600 BC.  Long before paper was invented/made, silk was a medium on which to paint. Silk was durable, portable, and readily rolled for travel.  Silk was chosen as an artistic surface not only because of its soft, luxurious feel, but also for its practicality. Silk is light, easy to cut into any desired shape and size and is convenient to carry. Chinese artisans prepared the silk for painting by beating it on a stone slab until the surface became very smooth. After the silk was prepared, the color pigments or ink tones were applied slowly and carefully. 

The Frog A Jumpin' Picture Process

A resist product similar to glue was applied, dried, and then Jacquard silk paints were used to created this picture. Both paintbrushes and rags were used to blend colors. Paints were allowed to air dry thoroughly. The silk painting was then rolled in newsprint, coiled into a snake, set in a pressure cooker over hot water and steamed for three hours. After steaming, the painting was air dried, carefully ironed and stretched over canvas. A matt was applied and then the silk picture was framed under glass.

Here's hoping this brings in a buck or two for our local Hospice of Western Colorado!