Full of Colour and Promise

So many changes lately, longer days, warmer weather (mostly), grass, plants and weeds growing well and furious activity in the bird world.

The colours are a bit overwhelming but welcome. I went out for a walk recently and took a few pictures  (400-500 actually) and want to share some of them with you today.

First here is a recently fledged golden crowned sparrow, having difficulty perching on the fence in my backyard, and looking a little baffled.

 Now on the Camellia bush, which is blooming early this year.

 Now here is a sparrow on the hummingbird feeder; how does this work? Seems to be looking for advice.

So down at the park, this red wing blackbird was trying to move the pesky photographer away from its' nest.

A pair of golden crowned sparrows.

Flowering currant I think.

 A different red wing, same scenario:

This one got so close to me that I had to back up to focus!

A yellow-rumped warbler (thanks to T. for identification)

Female red wing, same motive as her more colourful mate.

He: 

She:

Time to stop for a swing.

Not to be outdone by the natural colour around them, these shoes have something to say as well.

A house sparrow.

Beautiful tulips and hellebores:

And finally, a chickadee, having a drink of water and then staying for a short chat.

Another swing, well ........

Oh, that gives me an idea............

So I have been busy painting again this week, maybe inspired by Spring and the day, here is what I have for you this week:

It's called "Swing Shift" and it is a watercolour. For more information on this original follow this link to GillianOlsonArt.blogspot.ca and for cards and prints www.pswhimsy.com (gallery tab - Teddies, Tigers and Toys collection.

Sorry to everyone that could not see the owl picture last week, I hope these are more successful. I hope you can see that they are well camouflaged. These were forwarded to me by my pal Judy.

Well all that remains is for me to wish you a very happy Whimsy Wednesday, thanks for dropping by, until next week .......

Blossoms

This week marks the start of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (April 4 to April 30) with events happening all over the city to celebrate the beauty of Cherry Blossoms.

"The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival was founded in 2005 by Linda Poole, its director, to commemorate the 37,000 cherry trees gifted from Japan to the City of Vancouver." Wikipedia

Cherry blossoms are among the earliest of the blooming trees. We have recently had a mild sunny spell and the trees have burst into bloom.

You can enjoy the blooms almost anywhere in the city, especially in the parks; there are guided walks, a bicycle blossom event called Velopalooza as well as music, en plein air painting and writing (haiku) to celebrate the blooming of the cherry trees. 

"Haiku (俳句, haikai verse^?) listen (help·info) (no separate plural form) is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:

• The essence of haiku is "cutting" (kiru). This is often represented by the juxtaposition of two images or ideas and a kireji ("cutting word") between them, a kind of verbal punctuation mark which signals the moment of separation and colours the manner in which the juxtaposed elements are related.

• Traditional haiku consist of 17 on (also known as morae), in three phrases of 5, 7 and 5 on respectively.^[1] Any one of the three phrases may end with the kireji.^[2] Although haiku are often stated to have 17 syllables,^[3] this is inaccurate as syllables and on are not the same.

• A kigo (seasonal reference), usually drawn from a saijiki, an extensive but defined list of such words. (Wikipedia)

I have included some of the winning haiku from previous years between the pictures:

missed the bus again.
cherry blossom petals
weightless in my hands.

Monica Wang

blossoms bursting
each tree is a choir
singing to the sun

Oz Hershfield

soft-pedalling

along the avenue—

cherry blossoms

Mary Franklin

Here is my attempt at haiku:

sunshine and blossoms
lunch on the deck in springtime
that is perfection!


There are other flowers too:

Japonica

Forsythia

Lilac, about to bloom

rhododendron

Horse chestnut tree about to flower

The promise of fruit, the strawberry plants are bursting into life and may start flowering soon.

This bunny was enjoying a carrot.

The red winged blackbirds are nesting.

Not cherry blossoms but beautiful.

The turtles were out sunbathing.

The daffodils in the park were in full bloom too.

This robin was searching for food.

Flowering currant bush:

... and one of my Camellias has started to bloom

All in all a most beautiful time, and I think my favorite time of the year.

Happy Easter and happy spring to all.

"Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift." - Albert Einstein

"God is really only another artist, he made the elephant, giraffe and cat. He has no real style but keeps trying new ideas." Pablo Picasso

So, what is the harm in trying new things, look what marvels have come of it!

I have been busy in the studio too. There  are two more paintings in the seashore series and another teddy bear and tiger image. First the two new seashore paintings:

"Three dollars in the bank" focuses on sand dollars a delight to kids of all ages.

"Three dollars in the bank"

"Sea Urchin Line Up" is of beautifully coloured sea urchin shells.

"Sea Urchin line up"

 The teddies and tigers are back too. Here is one called "Splish, splash, time for a ..."

All are watercolours, for more details follow this link: GillianOlsonArt.blogspot.ca

I am delighted that you have dropped by for a visit, Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next week ..........