Birds and nature can release us from the worries and tensions of the moment!
We all need meaning in our lives but with the current chaos Covid has brought, it feels like life has been put on hold. It is hard to escape the mundane. We can read a good book, listen to some beautiful music, take up a new hobby, research on-line, play board games, or just take a walk outside to find release from the worries and tensions of the moment!
Walking outside can be completely restorative. I find birds delightful to watch; they entertain and are fascinating. I have painted many birds in my ‘Little Bird Series’ and I certainly love studying them because of their diversity of colour, adaptability and links to places across the world.
As Stephen Moss, author and naturalist, writing in The Guardian points out, now is the perfect time to learn how to distinguish birds and their songs, while there is less traffic noise to drown out their sounds. His useful article ‘Home birds: how to spot 20 of the most common species from your window, walk or garden’ is a great way to start.
I don’t know about you, but I find distinguishing bird songs difficult. Listening to the sound clips of different bird species’ helps us to identify which is which. I find myself trying to identify birds as I go for my walks, but often dull and misty winter-weather makes it hard to even catch a glimpse of them or their colouring.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) UK is a great organisation from which to learn about birds and identify the different varieties and sounds, using their song identifier page. Great for children to start learning about birds. I love RSPB’s heading: ‘Nothing lifts the spirits in the morning more than the dawn chorus. Think of it as caffeine for the soul”!
RSPB describes a Wren’s song as: ‘superfast, packing in 100 notes or more, linking together several mini trills including a dry rattle with the speed of a mini machine gun!’ Wrens are one of my favourite birds - they are delightful to paint with their perky tales and small, round bodies.
Brown Wren on Door, Original Oil on Canvas, 12-inch x 6-inch, deep edged canvas
My small painting of a brown wren would look lovely set against a thick gold frame or bought as a set from my ‘Little Bird Series’. The ornaments on the door complement the wren’s colouring and the blue door sets off the focus. The Brown Wren on Door is also available as a Fine Art Print.
Nature offers us freedom and relief from Covid, if only for a moment. Studying birds is a great pastime, whatever our age. Over these dark wintery months, if we are unable to distinguish a bird’s call, or be able to see their lovely colouring, we can still appreciate a painting of a bird on our wall!
Warmly,
Patricia
‘Love, Joy, Create’ Blog – My love of nature inspires my art practice. Learning from nature, seeing animals and birds fills me with joy. Please follow along with me and create your own inspiration for your art by learning about nature and the world around us. art@patriciajvalentiart.com
Patricia Valenti is a representational contemporary fine artist and life-long painter, based in Kent in the UK, beginning her artistic studies as a young girl. Her passion for nature and the beauty of animals and wildlife can be seen in her work, transforming familiar animals and wildlife into stunning, realistic interpretations with emotional impact. Her walks around the surrounding countryside near her home inspire her work.