Capturing Beauty

Cherry

By Bee

Fri, 07 Mar 2014
  • 8742 reads
23 comments
 

First, I paint on masking fluid,
dragging and flicking to splash needles
where goldfinches nestle amongst the thistles
drawn in faint HB, each waiting
in anticipation of the vibrant
and the subtle tints to be applied.

I decide on a No. 2 brush and a No.10,
wet the surface to be worked on,
then blending cobalt blue with burnt sienna,
I shade in a touch of ultramarine.
Next come umber shadows,
and I use chrome yellow and black and white
for the flashy markings of the wings.

For the back-view bird,
I mix the faintest purple, which I blend
with thinned sienna to produce a pale brown.
To soften hard edges, I wash in extra water
and with dry brush, procure the appearance
of feathers, spotting on
some darker flecks of brown.

Painting on a little yellow
where the red will be applied ensures
the brightest shade. And now
I use a finer brush to bring in sharper detail
before a glaze - transparent wet on dry.

Peeling off the masking fluid,
I wash in the hazy mists of thistles
in pinks and mauves and muted greens.
These form a background where unaware
the finches flock to feed.

I do not indicate the net -
so fine, the birds will be deceived;
their freedom soon forgotten -
they'll want for nothing, and I think
they'll be quite happy in a cage.

 
 

Certificate PG
Poem
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

The contrasting meaning of capturing beauty does not hit one until the final stanza. The endeavour of drawing and painting the goldfinches in their nest is explained in fine details and we marvel at the workmanship and sensitivity, only to be disillusioned by the artist's lack of soul believing that the birds would be happy fettered in a cage. A well crafted and challenging poem, Bee.

Luigi

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you so much for that great review, Luigi. I actually did work hard on this one, so I'm thrilled you got what I was trying for. 

 

Bee

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I loved the artistic detail (of which I am very ignorant and totally inexperienced) in this earlier, but thought I must come back to decide quite what was going on at the end, but Luigi's comment has made me look back, and think 'Oh why didn't I see that so clearly before!' and I do agree with his comment, and the suitability of the title. I remember in school, I would stare blankly at Shakespeare and we had rather a dragon of a teacher, but she would just say a few words and all would be clear. I'm just rather slow. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Bee on

Rhiannon, you are not slow, you are always so - on the ball. Glad you liked the arty bit. 

Thank you for taking the time with this - I appreciate it. 

 

Bee

Submitted by jeand on

HI Bee

Beautifully described and rather sad in the end bit. 

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Jean. Glad you liked the description. I was reading about a woman who kept goldfinches and got fined for letting them all starve to death - as in the photo. Horrible!

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

So pleased, Bear, that you you noticed the deeper intentions and possibilities, especially in the art bit. 

Thank you. 

Bee

Submitted by HarryC on

I demand to know why this poem has not been awarded cherries!

Fabulous, Bee.  Your work never fails to delight.  This is one of your best, I think - but that's saying something.

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you so very much, Stan - that's so kind, and really encouraging.

Bee

Submitted by VeraClark on

This is beautiful with a touch of the horrific. So well crafted Bee.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you, Vera. That means a lot to me. 

Bee

Submitted by HarryC on

Here you go, Bee.  Best I can do...

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=...

 

Submitted by Bee on

Ha ha! Stan, you have made my day and brought such cheer to my heart with your determination to get this poem cherried. Thank you - what a wonderful surprise!

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

And now I see it's actually got cherries. That's a real surprise!

Thanks, Cherry picker. 

Bee

Submitted by HarryC on

Well-deserved!

Sour cherries are good for gout, so I understand, because they lower uric acid in the blood (well, wouldn't you know!)  These ones wouldn't be any good.  Late cherries are sweet! wink

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Lovely, Bee.

I used to know someone in Leeds who used to draw some of the most beautiful pen drawings of animals I have ever seen.  I had a couple - long lost.  He lived in the attic of a house in Victoria Road, LS6 and was a smack addict.  He was such a lovely person in a world that was full of shits and users.  I wonder what happened to him.  Your poem awakened that whole memory.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Bee on

Hi PT. Glad to have triggered the memory. Thanks so much for reading and for sharing.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Bitter-sweet sums this one up, Bee. So colourfully written, and then that short, sharp shock of the last stanza.

Amazing.

Tinasmiley

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you, Tina. Glad the ending worked for you.

Bee

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Delightful and amazing, bee. That last bit really took me by surprise. I like when that happens.

Rich

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Rich.

Pleased you were surprised and liked.

Bee

Submitted by torscot on

Hello Bee

I really enjoyed reading this feathery tale.

Very visual indeed and with your description I can see this as an actual water colour on the gallery wall.

Regards.

torscot

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you, torscot. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Pleased that it painted the picture for you. 

Bee