Dispatching from the cold North. Western Michigan to be exact. Winter is showing signs of letting soon. We’re expecting snow in early April but on our shores the ground plants are popping up and the song birds are back. It’s cold but not for long.
I don’t know about you but the Winter Fronts have a way of knocking me back. With every icy wave, I have to build in ways to fight the doldrums. My way of holding the ropes, to stay fast, is keep the house warm with music, friends, family, food and toasty fires. Morning walks help too.
One of the amazing things about this time of year are all the birds that return to Michigan. From the dull, snowy hush of winter comes the spring leaves, presence of animals, especially the birds. Cardinals, jays, geese, and wrens are the common birds you notice. However, it’s the swifts and swallows that catch my eye.
For one they’re fast, their tail feathers are longer, and they master all aspects of flying. So it’s not uncommon to see them bullet into an open barn or eave. They’re amazing ability to build a nest inches below a ceiling is second only by their ability to stick the landing upon entering.
Culturally speaking swallows have made their mark. It’s said that sailors who have traveled over 5k nautical miles would have a swallow tattooed to their hand, arm, or chest. A second swallow would be tattooed near it when the sailor reached 10k nautical miles. Those sailors who invested heavily into the folklore believed drowned souls were lifted from water by swallows and carried into heaven.
T.S. Elliot mentions the swallow in The Waste Land. Quoting here: Quando fiam ceu chelidon—O swallow swallow or When will I be like the swallow, so that I can stop being silent? And it’s from this I draw my inspiration.
This piece is a rendering of a sparrow in polygonal shapes. Faceted as we are, we have abilities and choices. We use them to our advantage and we master our craft. It’s a reminder to me that at any time I can choose to soar.
This 12″x18″ piece is a frame-ready, high-resolution digital design. Download it before May 1.
Suggestions for printing.
You could have download this PDF and sent it to a one of the following vendors like you would a photo. It’s just that easy.
I’ve used each of the vendors below. The costs are low and set up is easy.
VistaPrint | Shutterfly | Canvas Champ | UPrinting
And Groupon sometimes offers deals on cheap printing.
Try RedBubble!
Going forward I am going to push Free Wall Art pieces to RedBubble instead of Etsy. The market is ready- made meaning if you want a print, pillow, smart phone case, tapestry, wall clock — you get it and you can get it from them at affordable prices. Check them out.
