Saturday, November 13, 2010

Another New Painting

Not only did I finish the Theseus paintings recently, I also finished this painting, The Mockingbird Song



The Mockingbird Song, oil on canvas, 22" x 28"


It was inspired by a painting by Phillip Otto Runge, The Nightingale's Lesson, which he painted in 1805 for his wife. I'm less interested in the form of that painting with its allegory and faux carved frame with cupids and nightingales, and more interested in the theme. My painting is an updated and personalized version of the idea of beauty awakening the senses to love.

For this painting, I looked to all kinds of sources. I looked at paintings by Watteau and Chinese landscape. I also looked to the Texas of my boyhood, and to that venerable Texas art form, the bluebonnet picture.

Here are some details.




























11 comments:

Tui Snider said...

I forget how I found your blog, but here I am, anyway!

I like your painting. Now that I'm in Texas, that landscape looks familiar to me.

I've seen a few mockingbirds since coming here, but have yet to hear one do any 'mocking.'

~Tui

Counterlight said...

Tui

I don't know that they really do any "mocking" either. I always heard the story that they mimic other bird's songs, but I've never heard it.

Thanks for visiting my blog, and I hope you stick around.

Where are you in Texas?

Tui Snider said...

Hmmm... Now I wonder if the mocking thing is an old wive's tale?

I'm in a podunk town a little north of Fort Worth. Where did you hail from in Texas?

And yes, I'll be back. I added you to my Google reader today. :) Stop by my blog if you ever get homesick for Texas.

~Tui

Counterlight said...

I'm originally from Dallas many thousands of years ago. In which podunk town north of Fort Worth are you?

susan s. said...

I think it might be because of the variety of their song. It has so many elements.

Love your Butterflies, BTW.

susan s. said...

Ah, but then I found
this. . .

Counterlight said...

Mimicry or not, I think the Mockingbird's song is every bit as beautiful as that of the Nightingale.

Leonard said...

The guitar playing musician is the mocking bird being mocked by the mocking bird...

JCF said...

personalized version of the idea of beauty awakening the senses to love

Aw. You and Michael, idealized? ;-)

Göran Koch-Swahne said...

A Error occurred...

Tui Snider said...

Podunk town = Azle! I'm a newbie here, fell in love and moved in with my sweetie after a long distance courtship.

~Tui