Art, Nature & Soul #113

An extended weekend road-trip.

Spring, 13 years ago, a mated pair of Sandhill Cranes appeared in the pond behind our home. They raised a couple of chicks and spent that and every season with us since then. I’ve painted them a dozen times over the years. Toward the end of 2025 a customer knowing my fascination with these birds, recommended a book she had just read, The Echo Maker: A Novel Hardcover, by Richard Powers (Author). I was immediately hooked, knowing I must go there, making plans to do so.

Nebraska's Platte River Valley.
The Sandhill Crane migration is one of North America's most spectacular wildlife events, occurring twice annually as hundreds of thousands of birds travel between their northern breeding grounds and southern wintering sites.

We went over to North Platte and watched massive flocks of Sandhill Cranes feed in the fields. One group had to be about 10000 clustered together with another 5000ish trail spread apart for another 2 miles. When we got back to Kearney we headed to Fort Kearney recreation area to watch the cranes return to the safety of the river, flocks and groups by land and air coming in from all directions. Learned that these cranes were named because of the sand hills of this area in Nebraska were they and their ancient relatives have been migrating here for 2.5-9 million years. Yeah it’s awesome to behold them.

Spent the 2 days driving the Platte River, from North Platte to Grand Island, centrally located in Kearney Nebraska, catching the Sandhill Crane spring migration. I had intended to paint, but yesterday was crazy windy and today was a chase from viewing spot to viewing spot to catch them. That said they were everywhere, mostly areas not accessible and private property too. Some really great views and memory captures from the car, guess I’ll find out what we got on film when we get home .

*150 miles across the endless farm fields of Nebraska, along the Platte river, 80% of the world population, 125 million Sandhill Cranes migrate through every spring. An impressive, ancient & prehistoric ritual plays out as they fill the waterways, fields & skies; gathering in groups, dancing, landing & taking flight in massive flocks, truly a sight to behold.

Nebraska! About 1.23 million Sandhill Cranes migrate through Platte River Nebraska in spring. Which includes the occasional deer, cow, robins, bison too. The skies, fields & rivers were full. I limited the photos considerably and missed some really awesome photo ops, but I have 3 paintings painted in my head, ascending, descending and dancing cranes.

as always your thoughts & questions are welcome,

Thank you, Richard

‘Descending’ 30”x10” oil

'Ascending' 40"x20" oil

‘The Dance’ 20”x24” oil

Art, Nature & Soul #99

Here's 9 of my most recent Color Studies. I do not typically post them on my website, unless it's on my blog. There's a display of them at Proud Fox Gallery & Frame Shop, for your consideration and a great many here in my home studio. Message me if you're interested. I've had several clients do groupings of 3 or 4 them together, one did a 4 seasons arrangement of local scenes, how fun.

I’ve written several blogs on my color studies in the past, so I won’t go into any elaborate info, except to say, they are more spontaneous, organic & inspired in the moment. They are 12” square on gesso board and oil paint for the most part, some are mixed media.

Thank you for your interest and as always your questions & comments are welcome,

Richard

Art, Nature & Soul #65

‘The Artist’s Palette"‘ is a new series of ongoing abstracts I’ll be putting out there for your consideration.

Over the years when I’ve completed an abstract, often times I think to myself it looks like an artists palette, mine in fact. I’m usually working on several artworks, both representational & abstract, at any given time, so the color palettes are often similar as they… the multi disciplines, echoes & rhythms are always playing off each other, in my work, for me, and ever present in my thoughts is this~

WE, ALL LIFE, ARE ORGANIC ALGORITHMS RECOGNIZING MATHEMATICAL PATTERNS OF FRACTALS x CHAOS, MADE OF THE INDESTRUCTIBLE MATTER & ENERGY OF SYNCHRONICITY IN THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUSNESS OF THE SPACE TIME CONTINUUM...stardust be it named, the universe or God.

Like ripples on water or the breeze in the wind, a close up view of a wild flower patch, sand on the beach or the night sky, the patterns within patterns with patterns are the enigma we call life. These patterns are ever present whether we notice them or not, importantly we can repeat them and create them as prescribed by nature, life, the universe & everything.

Chaos changes the patterns, the new pattern changes the outcome & design, but if we can’t change anything because it’s already happened, then we may as well smoke flowers. I believe we can, we do change the outcome. As such it’s our our responsibility, if not our prerogative to try.

These novelty artworks reflect that idea and echo that sentiment. Most if not all palettes are initially used in the creation of one of my standard paintings, either representational or abstract. All though I must confess, sometimes I’m overwhelmed & inspired to push paint & color around, create textures & designs. These make a perfect impromptu painterly emotional escape for me. Each are a 9”x12” on wood palette and have an introductory price of $100. directly from me, the painter.

Your questions & comments are welcome. Message me if you’re interested in acquiring one of “The Artist’s Palette” pieces. ~Richard

Art, Nature & Soul #60

I just gotta paint, that’s it! I see something, imagine a thing, get a feeling, and go for it. These color studies are my playtime, free streaming, eyes to brain to hand…no, over thinking, just a blissful outpouring of emotion & paint… color my world and I’ll color yours. I hope they bring you as much joy as they bring me.

As always, these are available for your consideration at www.richardsperrygallery.com & your comments and questions are welcome~

Richard

www.richardsperrygallery.com