Welcome to PASSION FOR PAINTING! I am creating this blog to talk (write, share) about ART--mine and other people's, about the creative process and being inspired, about some of my other passions (nature, animals, etc.) and as a forum to get out some thoughts and observations.
Encounter with Nature
I am in Mill Valley today, at the home of the celebrated photographer Pirkle Jones, who is a good friend and also my part-time employer. His home is located in a beautiful setting in the woods, where most of what you hear is birdsong and the bubbling stream down in the canyon. When I came up the walk this morning, I frightened a mama deer, who went running off a ways. Once in the house, I looked out the window and saw her out front again, intently looking into the forest and swiveling her ears about like antenna. Pretty soon another deer approached. To my surprise, Mama deer ran up to the interloper, chased her around in a circle, and drove her off. Then Mama went over to the bushes where her fawn was hidden, and started to nurse the baby. It was amazing to watch. In a little while, the other deer returned, followed by two babies! Pirkle and I watched them wander through the woods, nibbling on this and that, and exploring. The mother wandered on ahead. Soon the babies realized that Mom was getting a little too far away, and they scampered off after her.
Speaking of deer, there was an article in the West Marin Citizen (our new newspaper) about the Point Reyes National Seashore's plan to eliminate the non-native deer that reside in the park. There are two species that were introduced in the 1940's---one is the fallow deer, which can be white, black, or spotted, and have large palmated antlers, which sometimes look a size too large for their bodies. The other type is the Axis deer, which are fewer in number that the fallow deer, and are brown with spots and have smaller pointed antlers. For more information about these magical animals and the controversy surrounding them, check out the Friends of the White Deer website. " http://www.fotwd.org/ "
I am not in favor of killing the deer, even though the Park has now come up with a plan to donate the venison to a local charity, so that the elimination of the species in this area (their goal) does not just appear to be wholesale slaughter for the sake of elimination. For myself, I just can't justify the arguments that have been put forward as good reasons to kill wildlife. I think my "favorite" one is the argument that these deer (who are smaller than our native black tailed deer) are doing irreparable harm to the local ecosystem and the riparian corridors, because of their mating behavior, which includes the males' sparring. Of course, no one has bothered to point out that the Tule Elk, which IS native to this area, and at one time roamed in huge herds through this area and is a much larger animal (at least twice the size) ALSO does this same behavior. It's a wonder there was anything left before us white people got here and RESCUED the Point Reyes Penunsula from all this wildness.
Don't get me wrong----I understand that there's a problem, and no, I don't know the answer to it. I do think that we need to take responsibility for people's interference with nature, which created these kinds of problems in the first place. And I don't think that MORE interference is necessarily the answer.
Getting back to painting---I have done several paintings including the exotic deer--"Journeying", which is a recent acrylic on canvas with mixed media, which I don't have up on my site yet---and "Our Lady of the Mountain", which you can see above or on the site. I am also working on another canvas which will feature the deer. I have found them to be quite amazing animals. Check them out for yourself before they are all killed!
Encounter with Nature
I am in Mill Valley today, at the home of the celebrated photographer Pirkle Jones, who is a good friend and also my part-time employer. His home is located in a beautiful setting in the woods, where most of what you hear is birdsong and the bubbling stream down in the canyon. When I came up the walk this morning, I frightened a mama deer, who went running off a ways. Once in the house, I looked out the window and saw her out front again, intently looking into the forest and swiveling her ears about like antenna. Pretty soon another deer approached. To my surprise, Mama deer ran up to the interloper, chased her around in a circle, and drove her off. Then Mama went over to the bushes where her fawn was hidden, and started to nurse the baby. It was amazing to watch. In a little while, the other deer returned, followed by two babies! Pirkle and I watched them wander through the woods, nibbling on this and that, and exploring. The mother wandered on ahead. Soon the babies realized that Mom was getting a little too far away, and they scampered off after her.
Speaking of deer, there was an article in the West Marin Citizen (our new newspaper) about the Point Reyes National Seashore's plan to eliminate the non-native deer that reside in the park. There are two species that were introduced in the 1940's---one is the fallow deer, which can be white, black, or spotted, and have large palmated antlers, which sometimes look a size too large for their bodies. The other type is the Axis deer, which are fewer in number that the fallow deer, and are brown with spots and have smaller pointed antlers. For more information about these magical animals and the controversy surrounding them, check out the Friends of the White Deer website. " http://www.fotwd.org/ "
I am not in favor of killing the deer, even though the Park has now come up with a plan to donate the venison to a local charity, so that the elimination of the species in this area (their goal) does not just appear to be wholesale slaughter for the sake of elimination. For myself, I just can't justify the arguments that have been put forward as good reasons to kill wildlife. I think my "favorite" one is the argument that these deer (who are smaller than our native black tailed deer) are doing irreparable harm to the local ecosystem and the riparian corridors, because of their mating behavior, which includes the males' sparring. Of course, no one has bothered to point out that the Tule Elk, which IS native to this area, and at one time roamed in huge herds through this area and is a much larger animal (at least twice the size) ALSO does this same behavior. It's a wonder there was anything left before us white people got here and RESCUED the Point Reyes Penunsula from all this wildness.
Don't get me wrong----I understand that there's a problem, and no, I don't know the answer to it. I do think that we need to take responsibility for people's interference with nature, which created these kinds of problems in the first place. And I don't think that MORE interference is necessarily the answer.
Getting back to painting---I have done several paintings including the exotic deer--"Journeying", which is a recent acrylic on canvas with mixed media, which I don't have up on my site yet---and "Our Lady of the Mountain", which you can see above or on the site. I am also working on another canvas which will feature the deer. I have found them to be quite amazing animals. Check them out for yourself before they are all killed!
Image above: "Our Lady of the Mountain" Gouache and mixed media on paper by Christine DeCamp
3 comments:
Hi Christine, Thank you for sending out the information in support of the deer in your area. Our hubris, as human beings, is to think that the earth belongs to us. Wrong!!!!!! Blessings to you for taking the time to do this. We love and support you! Irene and John
Christine. I love your work! I love this blog, too. I just started drawing trees and had real beginner luck. First came an oak embracing itself - its female and male parts. It's fairly accurate as to how the tree grows, but it took on a human identity, unintended at first. Next was a young oak tree being ravished by a strong manzanita bush. Much fun. I'm 65 and soon to at least partly retire from pre-school teaching. Hope to do more art. I've worked in several media - drawing, watercolor, stone sculpture. It's inspiring to hear your process.
Toni--
Thanks for your comments and enthusiasm! Those trees are wonderful beings---they are some of my favorite subjects! Keep up the artwork--it is very life sustaining! If you would like to be on my mailing list or my email list, let me know. I would be delighted to add your name.
Christine
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