Acrylic on canvas – 16 x 16 inch – Unique work

I’m walking alone down the street. The sun is burning my face. I’ve covered up too much again; I’m so hot. I take off one layer, then two. I find myself in a T-shirt, my arms full of my jacket and two sweaters. Not easy in April: the wind can be cool, even cold in the shade, and on the other hand, in full sun, wow, it’s nice, but…

I was deep in thought when my attention was caught by a peculiar noise. I looked up and yessss, birds. There were a multitude of birds in the trees. They were busy living. Some were busy brooding their young, others were hunting, and more were still looking for their soul mate. I was fascinated by this show. How beautiful nature is.

Bird song is so special. It’s different, incredibly powerful for such small beings. They give everything they have to produce this sound. They understand each other, of course, but from one region to another it’s a different song, a different language. The day I learned that, well, I was fascinated. Imagine from one country to another!

These animals exude such freedom of life, and a loyalty within their couples, a lifelong bond, a passing on of knowledge between generations as they travel from north to south and vice versa. All of this is done with the aim of ensuring the survival of the species. It’s a blend of the deeply rooted, the innate, and the exceptionally acquired.

And when they learn to fly, what can you say … It’s absolutely majestic. The geese arriving or departing announce the seasons. Their landing, or should I rather write their water landing, always amazes me. It takes me to childhood memories. A cartoon at the cinema: Bernard and Bianca. Their journey through the air in a can of sardines on the back of Orville the albatross who works for an airline. I remember trembling and saying ohhh nooo when he had trouble taking off. I drew their character in a small notebook afterwards, a notebook that I still have somewhere!

I continue my walk, stars in my eyes, dazzled by the sun, no doubt, I’ll say that! Look, a goose is walking right behind me, I slow down to let it pass. It’s waddling happily, carefree, happy.
I look at it and say to myself, go ahead, act like a bird!