"Winter Messenger" a transformation

Some say cardinals are messengers sent from above to remind us that loved ones are still with us. They are a favorite bird for many people. Perhaps it's because of their perky personalities or striking red feathers. In winter, when the colors are muted and dull, that flicker of red is certain to catch the eye.

Not all paintings have a life that follows the expected trajectory. Ideally, there is a concept, reference materials are gathered and surfaces prepared. Some works are completed in a few days or weeks. Some are started and abandoned.  And some, like this one, are completed, stored and revisited.

The “first” time I finished this cardinal painting, I thought there wasn't anything else I could do to it. I wasn't necessarily happy with the result, but I really didn't know what else could be done, so it went into storage. I pulled it out recently, intending to reuse the panel and paint over the less than perfect painting. But something stopped me. I liked the concept of the work, that cardinal sitting on a branch with all the layers of twigs.  I loved the soft muted color in the background, but the bird itself was uninteresting.

“Winter Messenger”

a transformation

I thought I'd play with it a little before I painted over it. More intense reds, a bit more contrast and the little bird started to make me happy. A few added berries helped to move the both red color and the viewer's eye around the painting. Taking a cue from the weather outside, I added some snow to the branches.

I guess there could be a lesson here, about transformation, about not giving up too soon, about taking a second look.

 “Transformation is a process…It's a journey of discovery “

                                                                                    Rick Warren

So here is a life lesson that I learned from this painting:

You might think something is over and done; a relationship or an opportunity. You might give up on something or someone. But occasionally, something from the past can be resurrected and transformed. Once in a while, instead of scrapping and starting over, we can take the foundation and build on it. Sometimes, a painting isn't yet ready to see the light of day. It might need to hibernate until the painter has grown up enough to see it's potential.

Maybe that is the message of this particular cardinal.