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Wet Magpies

9/9/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture"When It Rains" (Canopy Series #4) oil 30x40
This week we had a terrific thunderstorm.  It took its time approaching, growling out its progress, but by suppertime we were inundated.  There had been ample time to put away tools and cushions and all there was left to do was to enjoy.

It's hard for me to pinpoint why I so love storms.  Perhaps it is genetic for my father stayed tuned to the weather channel year-round.  It could also be the effect of those millions of feel-good negative ions which are released when raindrops land.  

And don't forget that rain polishes everything to a high gloss.  Jon calls me a magpie because I love shiny things.  

Whatever the reason, I am always buoyed by the raw drama of a storm and sorry when it is over.  Even in the middle of the night, Jewell and I would get up and head for the living room for the best view of the proceedings.  (No sissy, our girl would attend fireworks displays with us although she did have a habit of falling asleep, nose tucked contentedly under her tail.)

This large painting took over a year to complete.  I had taken the original shot in the late afternoon of a dark fall day.  While it had rained earlier, the road had dried.  When I finished the canvas shortly after, I was happy with the tree canopy but not with the street itself.  Over the next year a school bus came and went; cars appeared and disappeared or changed models.  Still not right.

Only when I drove that same street again the following autumn did I find what I had been instinctively looking for:  a dark and shiny road!  Despite the pouring rain I parked the car, marched to the centre of the road and took my shot before scampering back to safety. 

We once bought a very funny book which purported to be a field guide to road-kill.  I suppose I should count myself lucky that Flattened Fauna doesn't have a new edition which include paintress magpieiae. 

1 Comment
Helen
10/9/2014 11:10:31 am

I agree heartily with Toby that your blog should be published!!! Please consider this seriously. I would like to order several copies in advance..

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