Contemporary Realism

Contemporary Realism
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9/4/11

The Cardinal: Signs and Symbols

Cardinal, Mixed Media © Barbara Goodsitt

Cardinals are beautiful birds. They are plentiful near my home and so musical. 
I love their song, which you can enjoy at this link http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=3.  In animal symbolism it is said that "Those who attract the cardinal as their totem are naturally energetic, love life, and happily help others where and when they can".  

This mixed media piece alludes to the way animals, (as well as songs, and passages in books) can appear to be signs if we stay alert. This cardinal breaks the boundaries of its borders. Perhaps it operates in different levels of consciousness. 

Artist, Carol Hanna, a friend from Ann Arbor Women Artists, creates huge, beautiful, and abstract paintings that interpret bird songs. She is inspired by the color of their feathers and the vibrations (wavelengths) of their songs to guide her compositions. 


4 comments:

Kendra said...

Cardinals are beautiful birds and I love the colors you've chosen!

Barb Goodsitt said...

Thank you Kendra. The colors are more muted than most of my work. Many years ago, when my father was ill, his friend gave him a stained glass cardinal as a healing gift. Whenever I see a Cardinal I see it as a sign of hope and love.

Teresa Mallen said...

I especially like the line quality of the Cardinal, it reminds me of a woodcut - and I love woodcuts! :-) I also love the Cardinal's song. And I do try to stay alert for the 'signs' that come my way. Interesting piece.

Thanks for sharing a link to Carol's work. I think her art is fabulous and I really enjoyed visiting her website.

Barb Goodsitt said...

Thank you Teresa. At Carol's art shows she has a recording of each bird song next to her paintings.

The piece I posted here started out as a photo of a cardinal. I did a lot of modifications to it digially using Photoshop, printed it up on an acide free art paper, and then added colored pencil & colored inks. I used to do woodcuts in art school and loved that process too.