2nd painting of chicken/farm series

16 years ago

Hi all,

I finally finished this one, it is 24"x20", I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one. I painted it w/two things in mind of what it means to me but to the viewer it of course can mean anything.

-Sheila

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (29)

lfrj
16 years ago
Shelly! I'm very impressed. Best yet! If I may say, you handled the front-on view (very tricky) of the rooster expertly. Also, the distance between the two subjects, (roo in immediate foreground and alternate subject - the city in background) can be particularly difficult to handle when there is such distance between. I've always found that these dual perspectives are tough to tackle. I also like the texture of the roo's breast against the texture of the water.

As for the "meaning" (not a word I relish when talking about art) I find the juxtiposition of country vs. city very thought provoking...underscored by the roo's bewildered expression... until we are forced to step back and say - "hey, it's just a chicken, he has no feelings..right?"

Okay, perhaps I should move on to an fine art forum, but your picture should come along, too!

Overall, very, very nice!

LF
Maggie_J
16 years ago
Great painting, Sheila -- very powerful. What I got from it is not just the rooster's bewilderment but his profound despair and loneliness -- the sense of his world darkening and the shadows of the city closing in on him.

I'm probably projecting from my own childhood when my rural Eden was paved over and subdivisions popped up like mushrooms after a rain. Dispossessed, that's what I felt, although at eight I could not have put the word to it, any more than that rooster could.

Someone once said that a good book reads the reader... and a good painting does the same to the viewer, I think. Well done!
Related Discussions
Row Cover Gardening
Q
Comments (35)
I like Johnny's Seed - Seed Starting Calculator. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/e-PDGSeedStart.aspx??source=HomeSeedCalc0111. I will probably use this calculator this year to determine the planting dates and use Martha Stewart's Seed Starting Worksheet - www.marthastewart.com/seed-worksheet - to keep tract of what I do. I agree with you - I have got to keep better records of what/when I plant and when/what to fertilize. I finally organized an excel worksheet for ordering our vegetable seeds - I think I have that documented for easy seed ordering decisions. Here are a couple of photos of our soil sifter (we have rocky soil in places) - we built it to fit our wheel barrow so it does not move once I place it on the wheel barrow. It works pretty good for sifting soil in a small area. I go down the garden row and throw in surface rocks then dump the rocks in my 4-wheel trailer and dump the wheel barrow of dirt back in the garden. Thought it might also come in handy for sifting soil for the Soil block mixture. FYI RE: Row Cover Gardening Posted by: karin_mt 4 (My Page) on Thu, Dec 30, 10 at 12:21 I like both of those web resources for seed starting. The Johnny's one is particularly cool. I found that the hardest thing was forecasting the frost-free date inside my greenhouse so I could predict when to start plants that are destined to stay inside. And yes, a customized Excel sheet is a great way to go! I have an Excel database that starts from the very beginning of our gardens, so I have a pretty good history of what I've planted each year, where it's from and how it did. There are a few gaps though, notably which type of raspberry variety is where. I also have a little bar graph that I use to track the planting dates, exciting weather events, bloom periods and key harvests. Each year I print out the template, then fill in the bars by hand over the relevant dates. This gives a very interesting comparison of your growing climate from year to year. Maybe someday these will be key pieces of climate data? The note-taking is also helpful for reflection - it helps you firm up your thoughts. Now, your soil screener looks like a very nice tool. I like that it fits firmly on the wheel barrow. What do you do with all the rocky stuff that is left over? Maybe you'll have enough for a stone border? Do you have alkaline soil too? Do you find that your soil gets clumpy, even when it's nice soil? That's something I've noticed lately. Even though the soil is beautifully textured (not clay), it forms hard clumps. I am wondering if this is from alkalinity and the particles being inclined to stick together. RE: Row Cover Gardening Posted by: 7000feet 3 (My Page) on Fri, Dec 31, 10 at 10:40 Your method for keeping notes is helpful! The Salt River runs through our property (a mild to raging stream depending on the runoff and irrigation needs - so I return the rocks to their rightful owner - the river. We have great soil because we are on an ancient river bed but the bad part is the top soil varies from 0-36" depending on the swells. We tried to locate our garden on deep top soil but still had to haul off large rocks in the beginning and now sift the soil as we plant and haul off the small rocks. I haven't tested our PH but is alkaline soil like yours. It does get clumpy but try to keep it moist during germination and use a lot of mulch to keep the walk areas dry/walkable. We add manure every fall before plowing the garden. We purchased sifted top soil for the GH and added a lot of vermiculite, peat moss & compost - not problems with GH soil. Here is a photo of what works well for us to remove rocks from our garden. I purchased this wonderful dumping trailer that hooks on my 4-wheeler. I rake the rocks in a row and use a manure fork to throw them in the trailer - then dump the rocks on the river bed with their cousins. RE: Row Cover Gardening Posted by: soonergrandmom Z6 Grove (My Page) on Sat, Jan 1, 11 at 16:26 I have used the mini-block maker for years. I use either Jiffy Mix or ProMix with it. With ProMix you may have to throw out a small stick or two, but it holds together fine. I didn't know about the attachment for the medium block maker that makes the hole for the little one to fit into until several years after I bought mine, and I never remember to order it. So I don't use the two blocks together. Some things grow so rapidly that they need to be started in the medium size, but I start all tomato and pepper seeds in the tiny block and pot up to small containers when they get their first real leaves or when they appear to be a good strong seedling. Some things I don't need to plant 20 of, so I write the name on a popsicle stick, lay the popsicle stick between the row of blocks and slide the blocks over in groups of five to a small piece of foil. I crimp the foil up a little to hold the stick so I don't lose the name. I don't make real plant markers until I am sure I have good transplants. I make the permanent marker at the time I put them in their first small container. I am much more likely to plant 5 seeds of 4 varieties of tomato than I am to plant 20 of the same kind, so it works well for me. RE: Row Cover Gardening Posted by: ngrrsn 7 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 11, 12 at 1:33 Would like to know more about the tunnel construction; why the wire mesh instead of pvc or waterline pipe? What is the mesh sizing? Is this welded wire? What size is the wire (#10,12,14)? How easy is it to form the wire? Is it fairly strong, or does it bend easy? Why the gaps between sections of wire? How is the wire secured to the ground? What is the height of the tunnel at the center line? I am very interested in this. RE: Row Cover Gardening Posted by: Hudson...WY 3 (My Page) on Fri, Sep 28, 12 at 9:09 The mesh is 47" 12 1/2 gauge Field Fence available at most farm supply stores - a full roll is 330' but most stores have smaller rolls as well. I cut the fence in 6' lengths with small bolt cutter or wire cutter and cut the vertical wire such that there is 6" of wire on both sides of the hopes to push into the ground to anchor the fence. The center height is approx. 24". I plant in wide rows of 30". The mesh size is 6" squares (for easy reach-in, weeding etc.) although the bottom couple of rows are a bit smaller. I gap the fence in the rows approx. 18" to reduce the cost and because the row cover does not sag with the gap. I like the fence because it will last many years and I live in a climate where we have had snow every month of the year and periods of hail or strong wind. The fence does an excellent job holding up the weight of the snow and withstanding the wind/hail etc. It pulls out easy at season end and stores by stacking one inside the other. I have never tried PVC pipe so I am not in a position to compare. I am sure this fence method is more expensive but I like the way it performs. RE: Row Cover Gardening Posted by: Hudson...WY none3 (My Page) on Fri, Sep 28, 12 at 10:44 This Years Broccoli using the tunnel method - keeps out the insects too. I usually plant veggies in the garden with the row cover the 1st week of may or earlier if I can work the soil. Without the row cover, there is a threat of frost until the middle of June and after the end of August. Well worth the effort! RE: Row Cover Gardening Posted by: ngrrsn 7 (My Page) on Fri, Sep 28, 12 at 17:18 Thanks! That helped a lot! I Appreciate the follow up. Post a Follow-Up Your Name: Your Email Address: Zone (optional): Subject of Posting: Message: Optional Link URL: Name of the Link: A copy of further followups will be emailed to this poster. Return to the Greenhouses & Garden Structures Forum
...See More
Quotes About Not Mowing
Q
Comments (1)
'U' are preaching to the choir here...
...See More
48 Reasons Not To Mow 37 Ways To Help Trees
Q
Comments (2)
Um... okay.
...See More
Painting Brick Fireplace - Another One!
Q
Comments (50)
We had the hearth removed...I can paint a room, anything more than that I call the pros! It left a place in the floor that needed covering...so you have that to consider. We were redoing the floor anyway - we had 3 different bricks going on in there - the floor was brick, the hearth was a different brick, and the wall was white-painted brick. (2 years on, we still refer to this room as the "brick room." Guests are baffled.) Plaster isn't flammable, so it can run right up to the firebox. To get it up, they firred up the wall, put in chicken wire, then started plastering. There's probably 1.5-2 inches of plaster on there. I'm sure it would chip off if someone wanted to get it off, but if you ever think you want to reverse it, I'd stick to sheetrock. I honestly don't know that it's a DIY - but many are more adventurous than I on that front. Most painting contractors can do this kind of work. Even up close, it looks pretty much like sheetrock. We chose the plaster so that I could go right up to the firebox, and then put the walnut cabinetry over it to emphasize the geometry of the space. Not for everyone, but this is my forever home.
...See More
woco
16 years ago
Love it. My wife will hate me but I set it as the background on my computer. I change it about once a month anyway. Keep up the good work...

Bill
velvet_sparrow
16 years ago
Poor little chicken, ostracized from the city... :(

Or is this one of those, 'why did the chicken cross the bridge?' things? :)

Cool painting, I love the expression on the chickens' face.

Velvet ~:>
sullicorbitt
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks so much for your comments! you guys are right inline with what I was thinking. I apologize for the first picture, it was overcast outside when I took it, here's another shot, it's not so dark as the first one.

{{gwi:43633}}

For me the painting has two meanings, one is just plain silly having a chicken in the city. The other goes much deeper, where is his place among the disappearing backyard farms? w/factory farming and stronger city ordinances preventing people from keeping livestock, it's more and more difficult to hang on to our nations farmy roots. Not many years ago lots of people had their own chickens, today it is becoming rare.

Do any of you remember the old commercial of the indian picking up trash in the woods? and the tear running down his face? that's what I had in mind as well.

Sheila
gcmastiffs
16 years ago
I love it!!

Is it for sale? Or are you possibly going to have prints made of it?

What are your plans for the series? There are lots of people who collect poultry art, myself included. A series of prints would be wonderful!

Lisa
Patriz
16 years ago
Oh, I love it, Sheila! Very nicely painted, as I really enjoy your style. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work :)
Trish
sullicorbitt
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Lisa and Trish :)

Lisa, I do sell my work and teach classes. This chicken series I'm doing is for an annual show I participate in September. My goal is to show only chicken and farm related paintings. They also have a competition/judging that the artist may enter one piece for consideration. I don't sell prints anymore because I was unhappy w/the quality they were producing and to go high end they got too expensive. All of the paintings in my new series will be for sale in the September show.

Here's a link to the PSA I was talking about with the Native American.

Here is a link that might be useful: PSA commercial
claraserena
16 years ago
This is outstanding, Sheila!
It makes me think of the 17th century genre paintings of people going about their ordinary work in a rural settingÂand always chickens aroundÂtruly integrated into life. Your painting is a wonderful (and sad) contrast to that.

Dianne
terryboc
16 years ago
Sheila-I love it. This may sound strange, but the little lines around his eyes made me think of Snoopy when he was thinking "Good Grief!" over something. He was drawn with those little lines (though more exaggerated). I'm thinking the rooster is thinking to himself "What am I doing here?"
Keep 'em coming!
cheers,
Terry
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
16 years ago
Sign me up if you decide to sell this, or sell prints. I absolutely love it!!!!!
I took a look in your gallery and really love the sheep one. My mom was from New Zealand so I try to find sheep art whenever I can, I know you'll be shocked to hear, but it's not that easy.
I'd love a copy of that, too.
Please tell me you'll make these available to the GW art lovers!!
Annette
susandonb
16 years ago
Sheila,

I want to say so much to you about your painting. First I would like to ask are you a a native of MA? And if you don't mind me asking what part of MA are you from? I don't mean to ask exactly what town/city you live in for security reasons, but if you would like to email me I am very interested as I am curious about your heritage and how it ties into your art. I have taken alot of Art courses and I am especially fascinated by art history and the background of the artist reflecting in their work.

My other interest in your art is that I am a native of MA living there for 42 years of my life. I was raised on the South Shore being born in 1958. Your painting has a great deal of meaning to me. I remember, even though Braintree is considered a suburb, where I was raised, watching it slowly become a city. I remember my parents being in an uproar when the town "dump" was being replaced by the "incinerator" and how that was going to change our small town charm. And when the "T" line was brought to Braintree, Oh My Gosh! The city was going to invade the burbs! It was no longer us going "in town" it was the city spreading to the South Shore towns like a virus.

For me your chicken is my family and the Boston skyline the enemy I heard of as a child. Ironically enough my parents were children of immigrants who settled in the "city" of Boston and only moved to the burbs a few years before I was born. I guess their apprehension of the city invading their suburb solitude came from their years of living in the midst of it all. How MA has changed, I now live in North Carolina and when I visit my family each year, I drive around the South Shore and Boston and often say, the quaintness is gone.

Concerning your talent, it is very impressive. Thank you for sharing it with us. Please send me a link to see more of your work. I hope I don't sound depressing? I actually love the MA I remember as a child and miss many aspects of living there a great deal.

Susan in NC
sullicorbitt
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Dianne, Terry, Annette and Susan!

I'm so glad you all have enjoyed this piece :)

My current work is a chicken on Plum Island for you locals!

-Sheila
marbles_n_the_garden
16 years ago
Hi There,
Another MA native here. I am originally from the Cape (Cape Cod), and have lived in Greater Boston. I like the overall painting, but I am so impressed by the expressiveness of the eyes that you have captured on the chicken. Most live chickens do not have much expression to the eyes (we do have a couple), and I think the whole painting is there--in those eyes.

The painting is also excellent technically for--the reasons mentioned previously--and the reflectivity in the eyes where you learn that the city is not just behind the bird, but all around as it looks as if there is a reflection of another building in the chicken's eye.

Another juxtaposition that I like is the soft natural lines of the chicken, water, and tree with the harder more vertical lines of the buildings/city in the background. There is that last soft bit of nature under the bridge almost being squashed by the weight of the city on top of it. I have no idea if that was deliberate, but it sure goes along with what you said you were thinking.

One more thing...
I find the color of the chicken interesting, as if it is a "black sheep" in that setting: outcast, "different", not welcome.

Quite moving, great job!
Robin
nhsuzanne
16 years ago
Love, love, love this piece! Would love to buy a print of the series if they ever become available! Nice work.
nhsuzanne
16 years ago
Sheila, where is your show?
sullicorbitt
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Suzanne,
my show is this September in Andover, MA, it's an outdoor show called Art in the Park. There are over 100 artists participating from all over NE. I really would LOVE to bring one of my chickens but I bet the other artists would complain!

-Sheila
nhsuzanne
16 years ago
Thats not far from me. I live in SW NH. Maybe I could attend. Why would anyone complain about a chicken? I bet it would be big draw.
sullicorbitt
Original Author
16 years ago
Exactly! it would be a HUGE draw and I'm pretty sure other artists wouldn't appreciate that kind of competition. My motivation would be more to talk to people about keeping chickens and share the love of the hobby. My fellow artists would likely feel it wasn't the appropriate venue for such a thing, I could see that point but where my exhibit is going to be primarily chickens I feel it would be justified.....but I'm a chicken nut :)

-Sheila
susandonb
16 years ago
Sheila, when in Sept is the show? I was toying with coming up for a visit in Sept.

Susan in NC
sullicorbitt
Original Author
16 years ago
The show is Saturday September 15th from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., rain date Sunday September 16th.

If you plan on coming please let me know and I'll try to send you directions :)

Sheila
Maggie_J
16 years ago
Sheila - I was just over at HT and saw this. thought it might spark some creative ideas for you. :) I'm not going to say any more because I don't want to influence you, but thought it worth bringing to your attention. Grist for the mill, so to speak.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rooster where you wouldn't expect him
sullicorbitt
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Maggie, that's kind of funny eh? They really put some thought into that one!

-Sheila
Maggie_J
16 years ago
Yeah, it's funny! I was expecting to see a rooster perching on an old crooked tombstone in one of those little family plots. Over at HT, all the folks are busy figuring out what what they want on their tombstones. LOL. Mine would have to be a goose! :)
marbles_n_the_garden
16 years ago
Hey! If anyone goes to the art show, post it here, and we can all meet! Maybe we could even bring plants to trade. Just an idea.
Robin
sullicorbitt
Original Author
16 years ago
Just let me know if any of you want directions and I can send along more infomation.

-Sheila
runningtrails
15 years ago
Hi Sheila! I think your painting is absolutely wonderful! I paint wildlife and am considering painting a rooster on the side of my very large and white chicken house. You can see my other stuff here: www.artbysheryl.com.

Anyway, I also love chicken art and want to paint chickens on barnboard for my own use and also, maybe, for sale. You should try selling your stuff on EBay. It works pretty good for me.

btw - I'm getting my first chickens today anad have found this to be a fabulous forum.

Sheryl
sullicorbitt
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Sheryl,
thanks! your work is really beautiful! I love the collies you did (we have a spoiled rotten tri-colored).

Congratulations on getting your first chickens! I bet you will find them very inspiring :)

I mostly sell my work via word of mouth or at an annual art show I do, I used to sell stuff on ebay years ago but found there were too many good artists willing to practically give there work away!

Keep us posted on your chickens, and I will be sure to post my next painting here.... no surprises, it will be of chickens lol!

Sheila

Here is a link that might be useful: My website
msjay2u
15 years ago
Love it!!
Looks like the chicken is in despair because the city is taking over.

2nd painting of chicken/farm series

Comments (29)

lfrj

Maggie_J

Related Discussions

woco

velvet_sparrow

sullicorbitt
Original Author

gcmastiffs

Patriz

sullicorbitt
Original Author

claraserena

terryboc

Annette Holbrook(z7a)

susandonb

sullicorbitt
Original Author

marbles_n_the_garden

nhsuzanne

nhsuzanne

sullicorbitt
Original Author

nhsuzanne

sullicorbitt
Original Author

susandonb

sullicorbitt
Original Author

Maggie_J

sullicorbitt
Original Author

Maggie_J

marbles_n_the_garden

sullicorbitt
Original Author

runningtrails

sullicorbitt
Original Author

msjay2u

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

2nd painting of chicken/farm series

Comments (29)

Related Discussions

sullicorbittOriginal Author

sullicorbittOriginal Author

sullicorbittOriginal Author

sullicorbittOriginal Author

sullicorbittOriginal Author

sullicorbittOriginal Author

sullicorbittOriginal Author

sullicorbittOriginal Author

sullicorbittOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

sullicorbitt
Original Author

sullicorbitt
Original Author

sullicorbitt
Original Author

sullicorbitt
Original Author

sullicorbitt
Original Author

sullicorbitt
Original Author

sullicorbitt
Original Author

sullicorbitt
Original Author

sullicorbitt
Original Author