Global Warming

On my writing blog I posted the following free verse poem of sorts. As my writing blog receives next to no traffic, and as I am interested in focusing attention on the problem of Global Warming, I thought to repost this bit of writing. 

Just to be clear, I'm an older persons, and could easily say, regarding Global Warming, "So what, it won't affect me. I'll probably be dead before things get really serious". It's not true, I am concerned. I have been concerned for many years, and would often point out to anyone whom I thought would listen, that the dominoes were falling, and that there were clouds on the horizon. Few listened, and now look where we're at. A crisis is looming, and there seems to be no solution, other than something draconian, in sight. 

The fact that the world has become overpopulated is a problem no matter what some scientists say, offering up the thought that we can feed an ever-growing population well into the future. Regardless of our source of energy, Earth's resources are finite. We have to draw a line somewhere despite the wishes of the various religions for more soldiers. We have to realize that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, and that today's problem was caused by ignoring difficult choices. 

We have created consumer driven societies. Time to (somehow) slow things down, and to be satisfied with less. Electric cars, and windmills are not a solution, only a poor choice to delay the inevitable.

~~~~~~~~

2020 Year Of Decision

Here we are, moments away from the year 2020, faced with a dilemma for which there would seem little hope for recovery, Global Warming caused by human activities. An inexpensive form of energy involving the burning of fossil fuels, at one time seemingly a godsend, now a mixed blessing. There exists a solution, the reduction, and eventual move away from the use of fossil fuels, but consensus worldwide is lacking, perhaps impossible. So, what do we do, what can we do? Where did it all go wrong....... 

Genesis -

2020

In the beginning, 

the Gods, 

                 believed infallible, 

erred.

To no one in particular, they said,

   “Let us make mankind in our image,

    in our likeness, 

   so that they may rule over the fish in the sea, 

   and the birds in the sky, 

   over the livestock, 

   all the wild animals,

   and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So the Gods created mankind in their image.

Then the Gods said, to them,

   “Be fruitful and increase in number; 

   fill the earth and subdue it. 

   Rule over the fish in the sea, 

   and the birds in the sky,

   and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

It was a mistake. 

Adam, Eve, and 

all of their progeny,

over populated, and

poisoned the earth,

the air, and

the seas,

killing the fish, 

the birds, 

and the wild animals,

and animals that move along the ground. 

So,

now,

we await,

the Gods 

                nowhere in sight,

wondering,

 ………………………………………….our fate.

Will we be wise,

manage to change 

despite despise, 

for doing what’s best

while undoing the mess,               

                                       caused by blessed ones, 

or will we continue 

to wallow,

filled with distress,

blaming

each other,

for all that is 

indefensible,

morally wrong?

Time is telling,

no sense in yelling,

placing the blame,

hoping to shame.

Now,

now is the time,

to undo the wrong, or

suffer the fate,

of the many,

                        civilizations,

once thought 

strong, 

and...

          now gone.

EAS 2019

Watercolour Field Sketches and Paintings of Northern Ontario

FOLDER #4 - #14 through #24

FOLDER #4 - #14 through #24

A few more hummingbird tracings and studies, and then it's back to landscape drawings and sketches. Actually, with this posting it may be the last for awhile as I'm back writing, and attempting to put another book together. Actually, in the next few months I plan to work at making two books, another art book, and a book of my essays and poetry. But, who knows, Ive been known to get distracted so check back from time to time, and you just might find something interesting......

It should be noted that hummingbirds are highly territorial, very protective of their territory, so much so that I've watched two males battle it out to the death. The males establish a territory, attract a female, mate, and that's it. The male has nothing to do with the raising of his offspring, and as the season progresses leaves the area to a nesting female. As for the females, they can be equally protective of their territory. The pencil sketches, or studies above were used in a mixed media piece entitled "Pursuit", with a male chasing a female, chasing her away from his territory, despite the fact that she may be the parent of his offspring.

I've chosen to not provide captions for most of the studies as by this time they need little explanation. I made many studies, many paintings, most a compromise to my attempts at creativity, but then one has to survive. The following is a creative attempt, a large watercolour painting containing elements of the American Southwest. I've attempted to depict petroglyphs from Newspaper Rock, which I believe is in New Mexico, the orange coloured rocks, Indian Paintbrush, a flower attractive to hummingbirds, and a Broad-tailed Hummingbird. It's interesting in that all of the lesser pieces were long ago sold, but the more creative and narrative piece remains unsold, and hangs in our dining room for our enjoyment and to remind us of time well spent.

For those of you who may be interested, here's the link to my writing blog. Check it out, you might just be surprised....

https://mytimespentmusing.blogspot.com

FOLDER #4- STUDIES #1 through 13

This last folder of tracings and studies represents some of the work involved in putting together paintings of hummingbirds. Our first trip down into the American Southwest, to a nature preserve south of Tucson, Arizona, was all about studying hummingbirds. During the week that we spent there we added some twelve species to our life list, and I came away with many ideas that inspired several paintings, drawings, and etchings. On another occasion, towards mid May, while birding in the Rio GrandeGorge, near Taos, New Mexico, I was investigated by a Broad-winged Hummingbird inspiring a large drawing and a poem....

Beauty and the Beast  - Pencil Drawing

The Hummingbird

It hovered and hummed 

in front of my face.

I stood very still, 

and held firmly in place.

Forward, 

then backward, 

inspection complete,

it flashed,

 its red throat,and

finding nothing to eat,

It tilted its wings, 

and was gone with a squeak.

When making a realistic wildlife painting, or etching, because of the detail involved, it's necessary to make a lot of studies from life, then transfer the studies to water-colour paper, or in the case of an etching, to a metal plate. It's a lot of work, work that you'll never get paid for, but necessary. I mentioned getting compensated for your work, the fact of the matter is that most artists work for much less than minimum wage. There is little profit, but we do what we have to do driven by the need to create.

Chickadee on Goldenrod

This is a study of a Goldenrod with a gall caused by an insect, a small wasp I believe. The grub winters over in the gall then emerges in the spring in adult form. The Chickadees and woodpeckers aware of the presence of the grub inside the gall will peck it open to get at this source of food during the long winter months. Here I've transferred a Chickadee study to the drawing attempting a possible composition for a painting.

Tracing of study in preparation for transfer to watercolour paper.

Plant Study - Pencil Drawing

Putting together a composition for tracing and transfer.

ABOVE - Hummingbird sketch with notes - BELOW

Plant Study - Pencil Drawing

Plant Study - Pencil Drawing

Plant Study - Pencil Drawing

Plant Study - Pencil Drawing

Plant Study - Pencil Drawing

Transposing individual plant studies one creates a composition and the difficult task of painting begins.

Rufous Hummingbird - Hand-coloured Etching

Hummingbird Studies - Pencil

Calliope Hummingbird Study - Pencil Drawing

FOLDER #3 - STUDIES #1 through #15

Going through old correspondence and folders of sketches and studies is like walking back in time. So many memories, trips to the American Southwest to study hummingbirds, birding in New Mexico and Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan, countless hours spent wandering forests and marshlands in Ontario making sketches, and canoeing in Algonquin and Killarney Provincial Parks. Memories, so important, something to hold on to as one creeps closer, and closer, to retirement and old age.

Another folder and additional memories unlocked, precious moments to relive.....

Canada Goose - Pencil Study

It seems that I made many studies of Canada Geese. It wasn't so much that Canada Geese are one of my favourite birds, but the fact that I spent some time down near Kingsville, Ontario, and would visit Jack Miner's sanctuary and observe the geese as they came whiffling in for a landing was cause for many sketches and paintings.

Chipmunk - Pencil Study

This study was used in a painting commission, actually one of the very few commissions that I ever agreed to do. You see, commissions mean creating a vision other than your own, and often than not there are differences of opinion. Fortunately, in this instance I had a free hand to put together a painting, which fortunately was well received and immediately found a new home.

Female Downy Woodpecker - Pencil and watercolour study.

Upper - Winter Wren pencil studies.
Lower - Chickadee pencil and watercolour study.

Downy Woodpecker on Suet Bag - Pencil Study  1994

Woodpecker in Flight - Pencil Study

Woodpecker Launching

The previous study, Woodpecker in Flight, became the detailed drawing of a Hairy Woodpecker launching from the trunk of a Maple tree.

American Kestrel - Pencil Study.

Hummingbird - Pencil Study

Barn Swallow Nestlings - Pencil Study

Barn Swallow about to land - Pencil Study  1992

I almost made a painting using this study, and the study of the nestlings, but I believe that halfway through the painting I discovered that I didn't like the composition and stopped painting thinking that I would go back to it, but I never did and ultimately, I believe that I destroyed the painting. Sometimes things don't work out, and rather than have a failure follow you around, it's best to simply let go.

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Pencil Studies

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Pencil and Watercolour

Red-breasted Nuthatch

The previous pencil study became a detailed pencil drawing.

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Pencil Studies

White-throated Sparrow - Pencil Study

This is the bird that first attracted me to the most perfect sport in the world - Bird Watching....It's a long story, so I won't get into the details here, but if you search through my 180 odd postings, I'm fairly certain that you will stumble upon my story.

Detail of the hand-coloured etching "Downy Woodpecker"

I quite liked colouring this etching. Not so much inking and printing he plate, however. There was a tendency to over wipe the plate necessitating the repeating of the process. Hand-colouring, however, allowed for a bit of creativity.

Poetry anyone..... I don't promise that my poetry or writings are all that great, and some I must admit are a bit discouraging, all about living and dying (what do you expect from an older person), but you may find some interesting. Here's the link.....

https://mytimespentmusing.blogspot.com