Friday, October 14, 2011

A Respectable Bird

oil on panel 6"x6"

A turkey is an odd looking creature, with an almost reptilian head and those crazy jowls below!

As for the title, Ben Franklin came up with that. "For in Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."

6 comments:

  1. Never thought a painting of a domestic turkey would be beautiful. Great job.

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  2. You gotta paint what you really, really want to! Love the colors.

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  3. Taryn, I was painting today at the Blue Hound Farm, and a turkey just like this one circled me as I was working on my second piece. He looked into my painting bag, and when he got behind me he would posture and drum his wings...I was a little bit worried that he was going to attack! Turns out he just liked me (or so the owner of the farm said)...
    I honestly can see why you wanted to paint this bird - those white feathers, blue and red head and wattle - you have portrayed him majestically!

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  4. It's impossible to know what will sell, truly! That's why we can't try to paint for the consumer, and have to just do what we feel, like you with this turkey! Every time my husband sees a new painting and says, "That one's going to sell fast," I groan inside, knowing it will surely be in my studio a year later. We call it 'The Curse.' - Sarah

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