Day 365, 9.5 x 12″ watercolor on pierced paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

After weeks of fussing underground, the flowers are poised to make their debut. Their green heads poke through the cool moist dirt as they are doused by a brilliant sun. It startles them at first. Soon enough though, the rays become familiar – like a gentle embrace. The flowers stand taller. They take their place in the garden – joined by old friends and new.  There is much catching up to do.

Original pierced paper image

Day 353, 9 x 12″ watercolor on pierced paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

Such thin, long arms of

Crooked trees

Surprise

With roots red and thick below

The earth’s soft ground

Day 334, 8 x 10″ pierced paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

I caught a story on Science Friday that was really interesting. The long and short of it was this:

• Cliff Swallows have begun making nests on the overpasses above busy highways and interstates
• Initially, many of them were getting hit by cars, leading to their untimely demise
• Rather quickly, researchers began noticing bird deaths were declining
• They then noticed these highway birds’ wings seemed to have evolved to shorten, making it easier for them to avoid head-on collisions

Much more research is needed to prove that this quick evolution is actually happening because of vehicles, but it is looking as though it might be the case. SO COOL.

I was inspired. I created this swallow with the hopes of emphasizing a really large wing vs. a small one. While I like the final piece, if I were to re-do it, I would create a smaller bodied bird and somehow drastically differentiate the wing sizes. Placing the smaller wing in front would help too. Currently, it looks as though I’ve demonstrated perspective on the back wing – not really my goal. An interesting little guy, nonetheless!

You can buy this piece!