Other works — A Different Perspective

$400.00

Paper: Arches 140 lb hot press block paper – Painting size 11 x 14 inches with matte to fit 16 x 20 frame.

Perhaps, those citizens that lived through the Renaissance period felt much the same way as we feel today. It was a time of great change which socially and culturally differed from the middle-ages when progress was measured incrementally at a steady slow rate. Scholars have proposed many theories about the beginning of this movement in Italy, agreeing that patronage of the wealthy Medici family, the migration of Greek scholars to Italy and the political structure of city-states were all contributing factors. This unique landscape of diverse competitive power centers each with its own government, economy and culture fueled a firestorm of creative talent and innovation.

You might be wondering why the Renaissance period in history that propelled mankind out of the dark ages is fresh in my mind these days. Scientific discovery, inventions that alter our lifestyle, art and cultural explosions and recently, quantum leaps in computer technology have always commanded my attention. We are passing through what history will describe, I am sure, as another period of time where similar forces as in the 15th century are driving this change. I am thinking about the revolutionary discovery of making a vaccine in a few short months to combat a virtually unknown human virus, about electric or hybrid cars and semi-autonomous vehicles, about cryptocurrency, about Thomas Dambo’s ability to use recyclables to create giant woodland trolls that grace many natural spaces, about Bluetooth connectivity, about the spectacular Dale Chihuly glass sculptures, about buying a mattress that arrives in a small package through the mail, about smartphones that are really smart, about the resurgence of small-town art galleries, and of course, about how Artificial Intelligence will affect all of us in many ways that we really don’t yet understand. Since we are a part of these moments, it is likely we are not noticing how quickly the change is occurring.

When I first saw this photograph as a free-reference photo, I was immediately drawn to how the photographer had digitally edited the background to match the spectacular coloring of the green heron. While I have occasionally seen this bird in the wild, most of the time the heron was in flight so it was very difficult to see specific features. I was a concerned that the green heron had also been digitally altered to enhance feather structure and coloration… a google moment had to happen just to understand more about this squatty little heron. Go ahead. Type in Green Heron. I was pleasantly surprised.