Tui in the Harakeke
For me, the fun of the picture is the Tui turned up on his head to feed the nectar from the harakeke (flax). I like the bright yellow blooms, the yellow nectar on his beak, the bright green of the flax in the background – all contrasting this dark iridescent bird and the dark stalks of the bloom. I like the flax and his tail feathers laying from left to right while the stalks are right to left. The shame in the pose is that his distinctive mark of a white pouch under his chin can be lost in the blooms
4 comments:
Cool picture and cool bird! Now I'm dreaming of New Zealand again.
I sort of like it if I turn the computer on its side too. Somehow my eye finds the bird more easily that way. (I guess I'm not quite as into subtlety as you are....but then you're a tapestry artist so you know what works in that medium!) Plus, you've actually seen this bird and have the wonderful memory of a bird that eats upside down like that.
OK, enough babbling from me for now!
Sue
I'm really enjoying the NZ pictures and story line!
I used to live there many years ago for about 5 years. We were in the South Island at Dunedin.
Simply beautiful and I hope to go back for a visit.
Susan
Thanks Susan. I've really enjoyed "extending" my trip by processing these pictures. Every week I'll stop and say - Oh remember this.... I hope you get another visit in as well and let me knwo if you blog it!
Sue - I see what you mean when I turn the laptop on it's side. I wonder about the shadows "feeling" right - i.e. does it portray the light source in a natural place??? So much of this I'm just trying to figure out what catches my eye visually and I hope this practice will make my tapestries better. Right now I struggle more with getting to the loom! Thanks for all your input - it really makes me think about what I am doing and that's the point!
He is so perfectly adapted for eating nectar. What a lovely little bird! I also love the names of things and such. They give me a linguistic workout.
Post a Comment