Robins again

Robin

Robins are members of the thrush family.  You can see thrush-like spots on young robins, their shapes are similar to thrush's.  Robins have a way of holding their head high that is distinctive; they may be trying to hear worms this way.  Our robins have been around for at least two weeks, which makes their spring return quite early this year.

This is a small painting, mostly pigment and glue-water, charcoal, and graphite.  Last year's returned robin, quite similar in pose, is posted on the 31st of March, two weeks later!

bird of spring

robin

In our family, each year at the end of winter whenever we see a robin reappear, we report to each other.  Some of our family now live outside the zone where a robin, returned, can signal spring; still, those outsiders get the report about our sightings nonetheless.  You too?  Do you watch for a certain bird?

This small painting has various layers of pigment, charcoal and graphite, and fixatives.  I tried for a solid bird (our robins are big birds) with some bit of movement.

Do you know the pastel paintings of R.B. Kitaj.  They are wonderful, masterful, with much movement.  And though his subjects are mostly people in places, his people have avian tendencies, it seems to me.