Painting on a ladder is a tricky business. It’s important to not forget you are on the ladder. But I get forgetful when painting because I’m focused on the effect of color against color. So I grip tightly on the ladder with one hand and paint with the other. So far so good.

What am I doing? Painting the sensation of walking through a birch forest. Their strong noble trunks and magnificent colors of bark and shadow. Breezes stir everything around and make the woods crackle in it’s aliveness. It would be easier to just paint birch trees. No. I want to feel movement in the painting. I want to be surprised by color. I want to feel rejuvenated from walking among birches. I want to feel peaceful.

Yes, this was a very challenging project. I almost gave up but stubbornness led the way and finally helped me to conquer. I am celebrating by sharing the images of the paintings with you.

These paintings are seven feet tall on Sky Cloth. It has an airy weave and organic texture that makes you want to touch it. Go ahead. I encourage it. My Sky Cloth paintings hang on the wall like a large scroll. A pocket at the top and the bottom hold small boards to keep their shape. They are easily rolled up for transporting. Kind of a forest walk “to-go”.

Condensing seven feet of painting into a small electronic image is its own kind of challenge. But you can add the proper scaling with your imagination. I want to share the amazing color and joy in the world around us.

Sterling
12″ x 24″ Kroma paint on canvas by Raven
sold

corvid chattering 

“Sterling, I have a question for you.”

“What is it, Felix?”

“Have you been looking in the studio window lately?

“No, I haven’t.”

“Well she captured you. Come see. You are too big to fit on the canvas. Haha. She’s got that right.”

“What in feathers are you talking about?”

“She painted your portrait, old bird. It’s you. She even caught the shimmers in your feathers.”

“Wow, that is me. That is a handsome bird. She caught my oratorical qualities. I like it. Felix, go caw the others. I want them to see what a real bird looks like.”

Politics and Power
20″ x 20″ Kroma painting on canvas by Raven

Ravens strut and fret their discussions on the snow.
Feathers burst over conflicts of interest.
Others stomp and fly away in disgust.

Corvid Chattering

“Sterling, I have a question for you.”

“What is it, Felix?”

“Point your beak over there. Look. In that window. What’s going on?”

“Felix, you won’t understand. She’s an artist. She’s painting on sticks. They call it an easel. She holds a stick, they call a brush. There is a little bit of fur on the end if you look closely. She drags colors around with it.”

“What? I like those bright shiny colors, but why every day?”

“Felix, why do you fly?”

“I’ve got feathers. That’s why. Open up my wings. Catch a thermal. Let the wind take me places. High places. Everything blurs into colors of light. Freedom. It’s who I am. It makes me feel alive.”

“Exactly.”

“What? Oh. Hmmmm. She has colors, brushes. Makes her feel alive. It gives her freedom.”

“You’re beginning to understand.”

“Sterling, look on the wall. It’s Herald! The artist captured Herald! He’s stuck on the wall. This is awful. I’m going in…”

“Felix, stop, you feather-duster! That’s a painting of Herald. It’s not really him. Back off Buddy. There is a lot you don’t understand.”