Crow's in the moment

When Magic Happens

The thing I love most about making these images is the moment when the bell rings.

When the alarm goes off. When the "Boyoing!" happens.

And it has happened countless times. It probably happens to everyone.

The moment I speak of makes you say "What a day!" "Wow!" or "Did you see that?!"

And for artists like me, we get the chance to commemorate those moments.

Like the one in "Crow in the Rain," above.

The house we lived in at the time had a lot of large windows. They opened onto the forest of trees in the neighborhood. More likely, the neighborhood was in the forest.

I sat at the dining room table reading during an hours-long rain. A soft, soaking rain like they have in England or Oregon.

Looking out one of the large windows, I noticed a large bird perched atop the dead uppermost limb of a tree.

The dim overcast light threw the bird and limb in silhouette. I thought it might be a big hawk.

Watching it for a while, trying to determine what species it was, I became totally taken with the calm action of its preening. I got out the binoculars and saw it was a pretty good sized crow.

I looked on, the rain softly falling, the bird preening, when whatever it is that does it ...

thumped me on the head and said quietly "Hey! Stupid! That's a painting!"

Of course it is, I answered. Of course it is. Thanks.

The gifted folks who designed our house included wide roof overhangs, so we could sit outside and still be sheltered. A nice feature.

I got my sketchbook and sat out there, under the wide eave, sketching while the bird sat enjoying its cool afternoon shower.

I live for those moments.