Monday, June 6, 2011

Feathered friends


When sunshine comes to the Pacific Northwest,
we all rejoice.

I celebrated with a day painting and sketching at Cranberry Lake.


Is it just me or is the world utterly stuffed with wonder?


Water reflected sky and forest with a brilliance that appeared almost artificial.
The saturated spring greens, intense blues and rich browns...
aren't they dazzling?


Gliding past me went group after group...


Young ones followed their elders, climbing up onto grassy banks to sun themselves.


Then they tumbled back in again. What fun to spy on them so closely!



Hours passed in almost-silence.


I sketched and sketched.


Even when I got so excited my camera missed badly I loved the feel of feathers and water.


I am left with the feeling that some days and some places are just pure miraculous magic.


At the end of it all I noticed a feather floating on the brilliant reflections of the water.

I walked along the shore and gathered a few, came home and cut some quills.

I am loving the scratch of quill on paper. Tomorrow I'll share a rough tutorial in case you want to go on an adventure of your own and try cutting a quill pen.