Watercolor painting of a white pigeon

"Liberty"
Watercolor on Arches 300 gsm Hot Pressed paper
19" x 11" (480 mm x 280 mm)
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

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sneak previews of Susan's latest work

I thought you may like to see another sneak preview of one of my latest paintings that will feature in my 2011 "Recollections exhibition":

I love to paint wildlife. Particularly bird studies.

Let me introduce "Liberty'.

A watercolor painting of a white pigeon in the beautiful Provencal village of Peillon. I love the notion that she is free to nest where she chooses. She has chosen this ancient building with the most breathtaking view of the Mediterranean from her balcony.

The broken window is the entrance to her sanctuary. The old glass and crumbling stonework allow me to play with light and reflection and these challenge me to paint textures and surfaces that are almost tactile. I want to give the viewer a sense of becoming a part of the earthiness of this place that is slowly giving-way to nature.

As with all of my paintings, if we choose we can enter the world inside the frame. We can look up to the broken window and watch the white pigeon emerge onto the balcony and imagine the feeling of liberation as she soars through the Mediterranean blue sky. Can you hear the flutter of feathers, the brush of wind as she swoops back onto her ancient perch? Feel the warm air, the sun and breathe in the aroma of wild Thyme and dry grasses. How easy it is to walk passed - these things unnoticed - and nothing would change. But take a moment to ponder what is there for us to discover, absorb - leave untouched. These cameos of life touch me with their unassuming and yet compelling tie to things passed, present and future. I leave full of wonderment and inspiration, great respect and gratitude to have looked up and felt this connection to nature.

As I painted this piece, each day I could sense these things and now the painting is completed, I love to watch as those who visit me, stand in front of this piece and become lost in this serene and peaceful place of liberation.

Tags: bird study, blue sky, broken window, liberty, painting, sun, watercolor, watercolor bird, white pigeon, wildlife painting

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 24th, 2010 at 3:30 am and is filed under Exhibition, Watercolor Painting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.