HAPPY EARTH DAY!
Have you hugged your World today?
Category: Events and Happenings
Art Inspired by a Snowy Owl Rescued in a Theater Basement
I am not exactly a wildlife artist. My typical artistic genre is more in the realm of domestic pets. I have, however, on occasion, created artworks of wildlife.
Wild animals fascinate me, and although they are not typically the subject of my artwork, I love all animals, and I am amazed at the wondrous beauty found in animals in the wild. When a wild animal finds itself harmed and trapped by man’s world, it saddens me deeply. I am very thankful for those who take on the challenge of rehabilitating such creatures.
I once volunteered with a wildlife rescue, which resulted in me adding my cat Slick to my family. Slick went to the Rainbow Bridge in September of last year. You can read how she came to my family here.
The owl that you see in the photo to the right is a Snowy Owl that found itself trapped in the basement of the Palace Theater in Lorain, OH. The poor animal was dehydrated and emaciated when he was found and rescued by the Kenneth A. Scott Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village, OH.
I was intrigued by the local media stories about the owl, and I posted about it on my Facebook page. It caught the attention of many of my Facebook fans, one of whom was so intrigued, she has commissioned me to paint a portrait of it! Paula Andrews Rogers is a big fan of the Harry Potter stories, and she saw a great story in this owl’s likeness to the Snowy Owl Hedwig in the series. She would like for me to paint it’s portrait and send it to Author J.K. Rowling in Scotland!
Once the portrait is complete, I will sell prints of it to raise funds for the Kenneth A. Scott Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. Stay tuned! Please consider donating to their organization for the great work that they do.
Here is a video from the Cleveland Plain Dealer that shares some about the owl’s rescue and rehabilitation. The owl is improving since he was rescued. Best wishes for a safe recovery, dear sweet owl!
An Artist’s Perspective on the Polar Vortex
As the greatest part of the United States is under the spell of the so-called “Polar Vortex“, people from Georgia to Minnesota are reaching for metaphors and other ways to describe the indescribable cold weather that has settled in around us.
Many have taken to You Tube with videos of themselves throwing boiling water into the cold abyss, as if creating their own snow was some kind of miraculous new thing.
Others have turned to other social media sites, sharing “selfies” or photos of themselves barely visible beneath the layers of clothing they have donned to prevent the cold from getting in. Photos of sad canines in boots and sweaters have been a hit as well.
There are the photos of vehicle thermometers recording the subzero temperatures, and the photos of backyards and buried patio furniture to record images of record snow drifts. There are also the multiple warnings to keep children and pets indoors. (HEED THEM FOLKS!)
And then, of course, the cynics come in and admonish us all for being so ridiculous.
But lets face it. Weather events like this are unusual, and if not for sharing about in a giddy way with our friends, how are we supposed to endure it?
You would think an artist would have more inspirational thoughts than most on the matter, but I confess, my Polar Vortex social media posts were mostly like everyone else’s. I expressed frustration about my truck being frozen shut and joy about the warmth of my new kitten Mia.
The truth is, Nature is artful enough without my input. Despite the brutal cold, the beauty of snow and ice is stunning. As we gasp for air that is breathable, we also gasp at the sheer wonder of Nature’s unbelievable power and beauty.
So the artist’s perspective is not much different than that of anyone one else.
Follow the wisdom of those who give guidance for enduring the brutal cold, share your experiences with those you love, and enjoy the wonder of Nature’s immense power.
That is the artist’s perspective. What is yours?
Whatever you do to survive the Polar Vortex, enjoy the Adventure!