Sunday, April 24, 2011

Majestic Migration

In Flight
6" x 6" oil on panel
$100.00  $10. s/h
SOLD

Last month my husband and I went to Monte Vista, Colorado, in the southern part of the state, to see the sandhill crane migration.  During the month of March 20 - 25,000 cranes migrate through, and spend a good part of the month loading up on fuel in preparation for the continuation of the flight north.   At any given time there are about 10,000 - 11,000 greater sandhill cranes at the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge.


They say that the cranes have been stopping off in the the San Luis Valley for millions of years.  On a cliff southwest of Monte Vista is a well protected six foot petroglyph of a crane.  This tells us that even 2,000 years ago man was anticipating the annual return of the sandhill cranes.





30 comments:

Victor Errington said...

great painting Pam. You have certainly captured these Crane`s. All the best Pam.
Vic

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Wow! The painting is beautiful and what a great experience of seeing so many cranes!! I love the sound they make as they call to one another. It's loud and mysterious. Great painting -- of course I love the subject!

Autumn Leaves said...

I loved reading about the Sandhill Cranes, Pam. (And now I'm dying to see that petroglyph, too!) I love this composition; you've captured the majesty and somehow, the regalness of these birds.

Kelley Carey MacDonald said...

I love the story - but the painting ---- quite possibly my all-time favorite of yours - masterful design and perfect execution!

Janelle Goodwin said...

What a compelling painting, Pam! This one just blew me away.

Debbi Smith Rourke said...

Spectacular painting!! YOU are soaring now. So fun to watch. Love the story too.

Mary Anne Cary said...

Very cool story and very nice painting. Lucky to be a part of this, wish I could see it, it must be an amazing sight. I love birds, and hate when their grounds aren't protected and things like this are interrupted by humans. It is great to record these events and make people aware of the need for protection. Beautiful job!

Jane Hunt said...

How amazing to see that - not too far from us, we'll have to go....
I love this piece - you captured a real feeling of movement!

Pam Holnback said...

Vic, Thank you. i think that you can always tell when someone really likes their own subject matter, their own painting. I loved going down there and loved doing this piece.

Katherine, I knew that you would enjoy the cranes! Right up you alley!

Thank you Sherry, I've wanted to go see the migration for years. Couldn't believe all the cranes!

Kelley, Thank you! So thrilled that it's your favorite!

Thank you so much Janelle!

Debbi, thank you! I might use the word "soaring" in a title w/ this series!

Mary Anne, Thank you. The wildlife refuge there is huge! I should find out how many acres. It's pretty organized, with pull outs for observations, a slow driving , road, water, they even allow ranchers from nearby to grow wheat on it so the birds have leftovers!

Carrie Waller Watercolors said...

Great painting, Pam! It brought back memories of when the Canadian Geese would migrate through our neighborhood. Thousands of them would land on our front yard and my kitties would go crazy. Our small female kitty thought she could take them on, I hated to tell her they were about 3 times her size:)

Carol Horzempa said...

Lovely painting, Pam! Some of those Sandhill Cranes are here in WI building nest in the marshes. They can get quite loud with their mating calls. They are wonderful to watch, especially in flight. You captured them perfectly!

martinealison said...

Une très belle peinture... de vie...
il y a trois semaines en rentrant de Venise au-dessus de nous sont passés des cigognes... J'ai beaucoup aimé ce spectacle... gros bisous

Ray said...

Thanks Pam for some beautiful art, and the accompanying story has put Monte Vista on Elsie's and my March 2012 itinerary. I most surely can't paint so I took up birding as an compliment my photography.

Pam Holnback said...

Thank you Jane. Yes, You guys should get down there sometime.

Carrie, thank you. Maybe your cat knew the mind over matter slogan!

Thank you Carol. Yes, The cranes are amazing. The noises and calls were incredible.

Merci Martine. J'ai aussi beaucoup aime ce spectacle.

Ray, Thank you. If you love birding you and Elsie definately have to stop at the Wildlife Refuge! Tte cranes are there for about a month.

Jerry Stocks said...

I love the story and your painting. You really captured the gracefulness of the flight. The wing span is magnificently done.

Crystal said...

A beautiful painting! I love the movement in this one. :-)

Marian Fortunati said...

Pam...
This is an awesome little painting... WOW.. what an experience to treasure!

Ricardo Miñana said...

A pleasure going through your beautiful blog
if you like poetry, I invite you to my blog.
you have a nice week.

Nancy B. Hartley said...

Beautiful painting, love that image! What an interesting and unusual sight!

Pam Holnback said...

Thank you so much Jerry, These birds posed so well for me. They were great models!

Crystal, Thank you so much!

Thank you Marian. Life is filled with little moments!

Ricardo, thank you. I looked at your poetry. What about a poem about birds?

Thank yo Nancy. It's funny how sometimes, you just look up and there's a painting!

mary maxam said...

the edges are perfect on this. they really convey the distant and yet aerial depth of the sky. very nice Pam

Kathy Cousart said...

I am in awe- simply stunning. Gorgeous painting!

Pam Holnback said...

Skizo, thank you so much!

Thank you Mary. When I first saw the photo I thought to trash it because the cranes were so far away. Then I blew it up and looked closely and loved their shapes.

Kathy, thank yo so very much!

Kim VanDerHoek said...

Beautiful placement of each bird Pam, it makes for a composition that is compelling. Lovely!

Angus Wilson Studio said...

Lovely motion and forms in this one! You nailed it Pam!

Claire Beadon Carnell said...

Oh - this really took my breath away, Pam. They don't look 'frozen in flight' as a photograph would have represented them, they appear to actually be flying. I really love this one!

Pam Holnback said...

Thank you Kim. I used a photo for this and only had to move one crane. I think that intuitively they create their own composition!

Angus. Thank you so much! This was a fun piece!

Thank you so much Claire! That 's what were all striving for, isn't it? To look like a painting!

Karen said...

Wonderful sense of movement...makes me feel the air, their flight....

Camille LaRue Olsen said...

Sorry I'm so late seeing this one and commenting -- really gorgeous painting, Pam.

Pam Holnback said...

Thank you Karen and Camille. I love comments no matter how late you think you are!