Winter Light: Creatures in the House

In addition to me and my two cats, my house is home to many creatures: flies and spiders, ladybugs and the occasional mouse. And then there are the inanimate ones, perched here and there on tables and shelves, adding a representation of life to bowls and vases and wooden surfaces. Alongside a real butterfly of iridescent blue is the multi-colored kookaburra salt shaker, the one remaining of a pair.




The cow, an "Ideal U.S. Holstein Female", used to be my model when I painted landscapes that included cows. In front of her is a charming wooden duck decoy, whose simple black and white paint fits the surroundings perfectly.




On a shelf in the bedroom, catching the morning reflected light, is the only human stand-in, a wooden pull toy, along with a clay pigeon, odd, but constant, companions.




A cast metal chicken does duty, delightfully, as a paperweight. The upright pincushion bird behind it was cleverly designed to gain a beak when a scissor is inserted in its head.




After the many birds, a group of tiny mammals, the handmade remnants of a Noah's Ark, missing limbs replaced by straight pins, gather on a windowsill to catch a glimpse of the world outside.