Title: Aspen Chickadee
Species: Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla)
Artist: Jay
J. Johnson(for
further information, click on the artist's name)
Image size: 7 1/2" x 13"
Media: oil
Date: 2005
Location: Wind River Gallery, Aspen,
Colorado
The Black-capped Chickadee does well on the boundary between
forest and field--areas cleared for agriculture
that increase the forest edge provide ideal habitat. It
gets along fairly well with humanity, benefitting from the availability of feeders and nest boxes. Although
many people are familiar with the bird's mildly undulating
flight, rapid wingbeats, and short-distance excursions
(typically under 15 meters), the moment of flight is elusive.
The artist notes: "I've often observed this bird from
my studio window, but this painting is based on my photographic
records of aspen trees in Wyoming's Grand Teton National
Park. The bird, taking flight from an aspen limb in autumn,
was completed for a gallery in Aspen, CO. I produced it
on Belgian linen (hand-mounted on hardboard). Prior to painting,
I applied an alkyd texture to the surface to provide a sense
of realism to the moving leaves."
