Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Bird in the Hand

A Bird in the Hand, acrylic/collage, 18 x 22
Elizabeth W. Seaver

I had to apologize to two of my young students because I didn't use the title they came up with for this painting.  They wanted me to call it Acrobird, which I really did like.  But as I was varnishing the finished piece, that old saying popped into my head.  Allie and Dahlia had never heard a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and thought that was the dumbest title they'd ever heard of.  Grown-ups are so weird, they said.  
 
Well, I had to agree with them on that, and reassure them that I DID like their title.   But when a title falls out of the sky, as it were, who am I to just let it lie there?  Titling a painting is a dirty business.  I mean how fair is it that you've taken all the time and trouble to learn to paint, gather the supplies, come up with the idea, prepare the substrate, paint the picture, repaint the picture, let it dry, varnish and frame it--and THEN have to give it a name?  Bleah.  All this is to say that when a title willingly presents itself to the artist's battered mind, it is a gift, and not to be left unopened and unappreciated.

So, my sincere apologies, girls.  And thanks for the help with the hard stuff.

13 comments:

Linda Popple said...

Your whimsical paintings always bring a smile - I love them!!

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Thanks so much, Linda!

Vivian said...

Thanks for the return to your wonderful birds. They are my favorite. So unique.

Saundra Lane Galloway said...

Such a fun piece Elizabeth! I was re-reading the sentence you have in your profile about birds reminding you of people you have met...hmmm...have you ever done bird "portraits" OF some of the people you've met??...:) a FUN thought for your day!!

RH Carpenter said...

I think the title is part of the creative process and it's great when those titles fall into your mind - like the painting knows what it should be called :) This one is definitely a winner and those of us over 40 will know that saying well and it's a fun one to use on this wonderful painting. I imagine you must be an optomistic, happy, smiling person to paint such happy things!

Michelle said...

Adorable! This painting made me smile.

Karen Kyle Ericson said...

I love the kids reaction :) And the painting. So fun! Med School is highly over-rated and priced!

Jeanette Jobson said...

I love this one. The colours are great and the birds adorable.

I hear you about titles, never an easy task, but Bird in the Hand works beautifully for this one.

martinealison said...

Tous les jours j'aimerais rencontrer de tels oiseaux sur les branches de mes arbres... belle oeuvre... Elle fait chavirer mon coeur.
Bisous

Deborah Younglao, Silk Painter said...

SOmetimes naming a painting is harder than actually painting it! I do like your title though. Imagine these youths not knowing that saying... I guess we're really getting old.

Anudeepa Kadiresan said...

I love this birds Elizabeth..how could you come up like this?...

Its been time, how are you?.

Jimio said...

You have some wonderful imaginative and innovative paintings. Its always nice to see an artist than can add new life to the creative process. **Cheers**

Carole Barkett said...

love the colors, they're great!