The Paradox

or five birds on a branch wearing bougie/boujee fashion

Hi pARTaker’s, in the spirit of bringing you a piece of wildly fun and different (for me) art, plus a distraction from the whiplash and tragic 24/7 news cycle, I’m sharing my latest finished watercolor, The Paradox, or five birds on a branch wearing bougie/boujee fashion. I use the word bougie/boujee for its alliteration, and depending on your interpretation of the word, because my birds aren’t trying to be more than they are (bougie); they are enjoying their beauty (boujee).

The Paradox, watercolor, pen, 18x24, unframed. DM me for additional details, or LMK if you need this hanging in your home or office.

Okay! This piece came about because I love to paint birds, but I also have a love-hate relationship with fashion. Let me back up.

The right cut and style of clothing makes a huge difference to how you feel, or maybe it’s just me, but ask anyone whose been to a tailor or seamstress, and you will get the same sentiment — there’s a difference. But a good fit and feel wasn’t something I grew up with.

In the 60s, I wore hand-me-downs, and when I went to college, I followed the style of the late seventies and early eighties — bell-bottoms, then preppy shirts, sweatshirts, and tee-shirts. I wore various disguises and posed as a shopper while working as an undercover store detective for a high-end retailer, and I discoed in clingy polyester dresses at night. In the 90s, when I wasn’t wearing short-shorts, tee-shirts, and a chef's apron, I wore bikinis. Then on to the 00’s, when I wore pant suits and wrap dresses. Chic and fashionable defined my forties and fifties, when I could afford boutique shopping, then I began writing about sustainable seafood and the oceans, and I became hyper-aware of the fashion industry's impact on the environment. But I’m not here to write about the murky relationship between fashion and climate, I’m here to paint about it. ;) Now that said, even though the evidence of fashion's impact on climate is brutal, I still want a gorgeous wardrobe that makes me feel like a peacock! The Paradox! These days, I live in comfortable stretchy clothes, neck scarves, and the same summer dresses for years. But I would so glamp for a special occasion.

Back to The Paradox and some behind-the-scenes deets, because there are details in this piece!

• First, birds. Enough said.

• Since it’s winter, naturally, I wanted winter birds (you can expect a summer bird fashion party later this year).

• The Crow/corvid came first. I find them fascinating and mysterious. Crows are known for their problem-solving and as messengers between the physical and spiritual worlds. They’re cunning and mischievous creatures. And so she is the center of attention, lifting a flute of champagne and the middle finger to the unfairness of the world at large. Because we can and should still have the right and privilege to sip champs and the audacity to say what we feel.

• Next, the cardinal and its rose gown, because every rose has its thorn, and if you’ve ever watched male cardinals in the wild, they are as fierce as they are beautiful.

• The Barred owl came because I’m the kind of person who believes if I channel my energy toward something, it will appear. And I’ve yet to see an owl in my woods, though I’ve been listening to them for the last fifteen years.

• The Northern Flicker, seated, and the Pileated Woodpecker, on the right, are both beautiful birds. And they are persistent! When I was in college, one of my professors told me that in the long run, persistence and perseverance will take me far. Almost fifty years later, so far, so good.

There are a few details that surfaced toward the end worth mentioning:

• My fashion birds only have a thumb and a middle finger. That’s all they need.

• The fox-like face on the top of the loblolly tree trunk evolved naturally and feels fitting, even though I don’t like it when foxes are near the feeders in my woods. Ah, the uncomfortable truths in life.

• The Ruin symbol tattoo, Persistence, on the pileated woodpecker's leg felt righteous once I painted the Doc Martens on their feet.

• The eagle claw cocktail table with the bowl of seeds and berries, because there should always be snacks when champagne is involved!

• I decided on a loblolly pine for the tree because they’re beautiful and are a fabulous haven for many creatures. Until a few years ago, we had a massive loblolly pine in our backyard. It had a long, low-hanging limb that brought me countless hours of entertainment: a great blue heron once flew into the yard and perched for a nanosecond; an Eastern bluebird pair fed its fledglings; squirrels, both grey and red foxes, scampered endlessly back and forth; and robins raised their hatchlings. But it was too close to our house, and it was a necessary sacrifice since climate is a real problem and tornadoes are a real threat in this area. It’s not as if we don’t have any trees. Still, I sobbed like a baby.

The Loblolly. The paradox of the desire between safety, beauty, and the ability to preserve nature.

So friends, that’s it for this month. I’ll be back at you next month with more art. In fact, there’s a Corvid cocktail party in progress on my art desk now. Thanks so much for being here and indulging me. I appreciate you! I hope your world is safe and filled with joy, love, and a dose of frivolity. Let me know you were here, please. Your comments matter, and I love hearing from you. Reply to this letter in your inbox for privacy.

Maureen xo

Cooper is ready to roll but also eager to pose!

Stay curious. Stay safe. Make an impact.