Bird Versions Today

Today, the bird has taken on many versions.
The one below is the latest.
Its appearance follows the small original more closely.
It walks through open space with just a few elements.
These are the type of tulips that first came to the Netherlands from Persia.
They can be seen in 17th century Dutch still lives.
In their curvy shapes and gentle coloring they form a counterpoint to the pitchblack thick and heavy feathers of the bird.

Crow Walking Through Renaissance Tulips

First Things First

I meant to show what became of the first bird in my painting of a long time ago, see older post.
But I was side-tracked, as you can see below.
But now, that the harvests are in, I can bring you a version of the bird as it appears today.

Checking the 2009 Harvest in Burgundy

Checking Former Harvests in Burgundy

ORIGIN OF THE BIRD

How did the bird get into Arie's art?

One day, many years ago, snow fell in Dallas, Texas, a very rare event.
As Arie was sitting at the window watching the white spectacle unfold,
a black crow landed close to the window,
as amazed about the white powder as Arie was.
It stayed around, looking in, even as Arie fetched his sketchbook and penciled him down.

Some days later, the crow-sketch became embedded into the snow-landscape seen below.
There it stayed for many years, a small bird, merely contoured in the white texture of the snow.

Many years later, Arie lifted him from this canvas and developed him as an independent subject matter of his art work.
Since then, he has appeared as theme in many variations.
Stay tuned for some of them.

A Rare Snowy Day in Dallas, Texas, with a Crow at the Window.