Late January I had an encounter in our garden with tiny house sparrow. She was chirping loudly and flitting, almost dancing on the newly cut brush of the blackberry bushes. She had captured my attention and caused in me a sense of wonder.
When I have these encounters, I have learned to stop, look and listen. This was what I call “a magnetic image.” To look with uncommon eyes and see the beauty of the moment. Engaging the sparrow in a short conversation… “Good morning, I see you, thank you for this lovely morning suprise. ♥.” Looking aound I noticed the lovely soft greys, taupes, and purple browns of the winter landscape, and noticing several beautiful birds singing their morning songs.
From these encounters I develop what we, the Zoom group, will sketch in the coming week. We study winter colors and learn to mix them on our palette. Also, we share tips for drawing small round winter birds. But the most fun we have is the sharing of each others “encounters, stories, and magnetic images.”
By taking the time to see with uncommon eyes, share our stories, and sketch our birds, we give homage to “the beauty surounds us… right here… in our own backyard… and in the world in which we live.