Birdman 8/30 and 4th Blogiversary

Birdman, collage/acrylic, 6 x 6

Elizabeth W. Seaver

Theodore was Birdman; Birdman was Theodore. There was no separating the two. Now he hangs upside down from this tree, and it must be said, grace and attentiveness during flight is not in his skill set.

Enthusiasm, yes. Zooming wildly about rescuing chicks fallen from the cradling nest, yes. A heart as big as all outdoors when protecting the weak and the undefended, absolutely yes. Which, if you think about it, are all very fine qualities. And if, several times each week, Theodore wrapped himself around a tree limb and had to be rescued, well, it went along with being Theodore.

Looming tree limbs are a normal part of life when you fly. It takes lots of courage to yell for help when you're beak down, cape over your head, skinny legs hanging on for dear life. You are never more vulnerable than then. But that is what friends are for: to support your removal from that tree, straighten your cape, brush off the leaves and twigs which have gotten stuck in your feathers and say encouraging things so you can fly fearlessly again. 

 

Go, Theodore, go!

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In other news, I cannot believe that I just blew by my fourth anniversary of starting this blog. I looked back at my first post about making tiny paintings on slate that had been removed from the roof of my church. Since then, I have painted enough slate in large and small pieces to roof a small building. I still find stacks of it in my garage and in my basement studio, and I took the last of the pins I made from it to Lorton this month for the gift shop there. So, there's a thread from past to present!

 

A creative life is essentially a solitary one. Most artists I know encounter deep pits of self-doubt and discouragement along with the heights of achieving something you never thought possible. If you stick it out, this roller coaster ride, the learning is incredible and such blessings emerge when you stop and look around. A blog is a historical document of your creative life, and sometimes even the personal one. It is proof that you stuck it out. It reminds you where you have been and how far you have come and that you CAN keep going because look what you have done so far. 

So, blog on, blogging friends. Thank you for coming with me. Thank you for taking me along on your journeys.