Mad Birds

Back to birds. “Mad Birds”.

At first, the Instagram bird photos (@birdsonearth) went from my brain to my drawing pen pretty easily. I couldn’t keep myself from humanizing them. Hard not to pull through the cartoon aspect of that, but in some cases I tried.

I started bird sculptures around 1982, using plaster, burlap and scrap wood. There were many drawings that I no longer have. But, when I was 23 or 24 years old, I didn’t sign my work, or sell my work properly. If anyone liked my work i considered it a rare honor. Now, some 40 years later, I’m realizing that was probably stupid. I gave away a number of sculptures, or sold them and my drawings for very little. Now, I just wish I knew who had the pieces. One oil pastel disintegrated and I know who owns that one, of course!

Emotional birds are humorous, because birds are not emotional. Birds do get defensive though. They are serious! Serious about territory, food, mating season and mating calls. Don’t you think those are entertaining subjects?

Why am I drawings these bird-creatures? I guess I am tired of people hiding their feelings, or maybe accidentally existing in a constant state of distraction, like me. People accidentally deceive each other, and avoid each other; all anxiety producing? They makes me feel lonely and unhappy. Birds are just honest, they try to hide, but no matter how camouflaged, we find them. I must also include myself among the hiders.

Several below sold.