IT ONLY TAKES ONE
ACRYLICS ON CEDAR W/RED OAK FRAME
FALL 2017

     I’m always happy when seeing (and hearing) the arrival of the snow geese to the Skagit Valley as they prepare to spend the winter months with us.  I’m reminded of an incident we witnessed on Fir Island where the geese prefer to congregate in great flocks.  Seemingly out of nowhere, a huge cloud of birds ascended from the ground jewel-like as the sun splashed across their wings.  But what was the cause of the commotion?  Then we found the answer.  A single bald eagle circling overhead caused panic in a portion of the flock, causing hundreds to rise simultaneously in the hopes of eluding the winged predator.  Thus an instantaneous cloud of squawking geese appeared, attracting our immediate attention.  This inspiring event led me to design this painting.  I also found inspiration in several works by Japanese artists.  Both Tawaraya Sotatsu and Hon’ami Koetsu’s Crane Scroll and Kayama Matazo’s One Thousand Cranes folding screen were greatly helpful in providing background for my design.  I made the frame out of red oak using pegged, hand-joined, mortise-and-tenon construction methods.  I used the Japanese technique (shou-sugi-ban) of charring and oiling the oak to finish the frame.
 
DIMENSIONS:           HEIGHT:  14 ¼ inches
                                    WIDTH:  22 inches


                                                                                  PRICE $475

Sotatsu & Koetsu: Cranes Handscroll

Kayama Matazo: One Thousand Cranes screen