#614 Snow Moon

Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, Native American and Canadian tribes of the north call

February's full moon the Full Snow Moon.  Some tribes referred to this moon as the Full Hunger Moon 

since harsh and frigid weather made hunting food difficult.  

Shown below, a Mule Deer doe slowly passes under last night's Full Snow Moon in the sub-zero cold.

The night before last, a snowstorm dumped over ten more inches on our studio headquarters at the foot of the Wind River Range in Wyoming.  We woke up this morning to -16 degrees temperatures and as usual, the first thing one thinks about are the animals . . . both domestic and wild.  We have horses, goats, poultry, and feral barn cats that share the property with a resident herd of mule deer and wintering pheasants.  At the base of heated buildings such as the studio, animals congregate because the temperature is actually a few degrees warmer.  We keep a water heater in a big rubber tub and put out hay and corn for the geese.  The chickens have a heat lamp in their coop and we enjoy fresh eggs in the winter because the light induces laying eggs.  While all of this is a necessity for the domestic animals, we are careful not to tame the deer which would inhibit their wildness and ability to survive . . . after all, in the big scheme of things, we are predators.

Below, are images taken at our place along the frozen Popo Agie River in Wyoming.  

Although the surface is frozen, the big river flows underneath to join the Wind River downstream.

This photo was taken from the studio deck this morning . . . below zero but sunny!

 

The barn protects horses, goats, and barn cats but on this sunny day, the warm sun will feel good on their backs.

Geese are amazingly adaptable to frigid weather and like all creatures, require an open source of water.  Water, in this climate, can freeze in less than an hour!

Below and at right, the big domestic geese are fed corn and hay is given to the deer when snow covers the ground.  Trish cries,"goose-goose-goose" and the geese come running!

Below, Trish and Penny enjoy a warm fire after chores are done.

Below, no sun yesterday but the deer, with their long winter's coat, nestled in the snow
and bedded down for warmth and the pheasant found morsels by scratching through the snow.

In the bleak midwinter, Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

                                                                                     - Christina G. Rossetti



Deer have always been a favorite subject.  Below is an early etching (1979) entitled, "First Snow".

Go to the BLOG INDEX on the right for more information.

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#554 In the field: Wilderness aesthetics, con't . . .

Please start this series of blogposts with #549, Wed. July 23

The Rocky Mountains stretch from the Brooks Range in Alaska to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico and during my life I have experienced  both the northern and the southern reaches of the dramatic mountain range.
Most of my Rocky Mountain travels have been close to home in the central portion in Colorado and Wyoming.  I have lived in the Rocky Mountain region for over 35 years and currently reside in the Wind River Range of the Rockies in Wyoming.  The Rockies contain ecologically diverse regions and vast expanses of wilderness for the artist and nature lover.

The lives of all birds of the Rockies are greatly influenced by the seasons and although most of the many species are migrants, some stay to nest and some are winter residents.  Waterfowl, eagles, and osprey leave the high elevations when water
freezes while owls and grouse will remain in the winter.

At right, Canada Geese glide past a feeding cow moose on a high mountain trout lake.  They hatched and raised their small brood here and will teach them to fly out before freeze-up.

The focus of this blogpost is five of the large birds we encountered and photographed last month as we celebrated my birthday week in the Colorado Rockies.  While fishing for trout in a high mountain lake, just below the timberline, we shared the beautiful setting with Bald Eagles, Osprey, Ravens, and Canada Geese . . . not until we left the high
country for lower elevations did we encounter the Great Blue Heron.  With each change in elevation,
habitat, and vegetation, there is a change in bird life.

Below, are photos of our experience and recent artwork of the five species depicted.

 Original etching entitled Bald Eagle

Sketch of an osprey

 Bronze sculpture entitled Ravenrock

 Bronze sculpture entitled Nesting Heron

Sketch of Canada Geese

To learn more about the subjects go to the links below.

For a complete list of the blog index go to the Index Page and

type the subject in the Search This Blog link on the upper right.

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#546 Beyond my studio window: geese

We had two pair of Canada Geese nest and raise their broods on our pond this spring.
The pond outlet flows into the Popo Agie River which surrounds the property and the wild
geese have taken the maturing juveniles downstream to prepare them for flight and migration.
Below, are photos taken this spring of the wild geese.

Below, is a working drawing of an idea for future consideration in the design studio.
Contemplating, experiencing, and observing birds in nature is the best . . .
and for me the only way to create sculpture.

Below, is a drawing of a big Canada stretching it's wings.

We have 4 enormous domestic French geese who hatched goslings over the 4th of July week-end.

We not only enjoy their majestic beauty as they glide on our pond but they also serve as an
effective alert system - similar to watchdogs - with their raucous honking
when anything out of the ordinary invades their territory.

Below, are recent photos of the geese and their goslings.

Below, the brood's first outing on the pond.

The domestic goslings are a daily delight and this is only the second time in six years that they've had their eggs hatch . . . so many predators in our remote and untamed area!  The pond, with it's little island sanctuary provided safety
for both the wild and the domestic geese and the birds were able to protect their clutch.
Domestic geese are built different than wild geese and because their weight and center of gravity
is set so far back compared to wild geese,  the domestics are flightless.

Below, is a painting of a gosling with one of my sculptures.  It was painted by Adele Earnshaw,
one of my all-time favorite artists whose work I collect and whose friendship I enjoy.
adeleearnshaw.blogspot.com/

To learn more about the subjects go to the links below.

For a complete list of the blog index go to the Index Page and
type the subject in the Search This Blog link on the right.

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#268 Beyond my window: Geese, gander, and gosling

Today's post is an update about the gosling hatched 6 weeks ago at my studio headquarters in Lander, Wyoming. See posts #247 and #248; May 30 and 31.  

The gray gander has been released from his pen and the gaggle is together now that the gosling has grown. Time will tell, during mating, if the gosling is a goose or a gander.  The young one is maturing with gray and white markings.

Observing, drawing, and photographing animals, whether domestic or wild,

provide a source of reference for future etchings, paintings, and sculptures.  

#263 National Museum of Wildlife Art: "Sculpture Trail", con't . . .

Last Thursday, the NMWA in Jackson, Wyoming unveiled and dedicated the Presidential Eagle. The event marked the opening of the new Sculpture Trail, see
posts # 260, 261 and 262.

No trip to Jackson and the Tetons is complete without spending time in the beautiful and wildlife-rich outdoors, photographing and sketching birds.

To learn more about the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the new Sculpture Trail go to:  

WildlifeArt.org

Trumpeter Swan clay model in progress

#247 Beyond my window: Geese

I have domestic geese and two weeks ago they produced one gosling.  This is the first year any of their eggs have hatched and it's been a delight to watch the three enormous geese protect the little one . . . they never leave its side.  The gray gander had to be penned and kept separate because I saw him peck at the baby and had noticed that the three geese were chasing him away when he came near.

The pictures show the gosling's first swim on our pond; the mother leads.

Bound For the Pond  4 x 7 1/2

Original hand-tinted etching, copyright Sandy Scott 

#231 Beyond my window: Geese

I have domestic geese which are fat, flightless, and as aggressive as guard dogs.  They are beautiful to watch
as they glide across my pond and intimidate the smaller,
nesting wild Canada Geese.  Somehow, they have worked
out a "pecking order" and co-exist.

It's interesting to note the difference between domestic geese and wild geese:  Wild geese have a slimmer, more horizontal body posture and are excellent flyers.  Domestic geese have
a large fat area toward their tail which causes a more upright posture and prevents flight.

Above - the geese get along fine until the wild ones get near the corn feeder.

Below - an original watercolored etching - Sleeping Geese - copyright, Sandy Scott

#230 Beyond my window: The Flower Moon

Saturday night, May 5, was the night of the Full Flower Moon . . . May is the month of abundant flowers.  The unusually large moon was closer to the earth this year and was spectacular.  Full moon names date back to Native American tribes of what 
is now the northern United States and southern Canada.

The nesting Canada Geese and Mallards share the pond with my four big domestic geese.  I took this picture by my studio on a cold, Wyoming spring night.

At left is page from my sketch book, and below is the

Flower Moon rising over my pond at dusk.

#223 Beyond my window: Geese

Every spring a mated pair of Canada Geese appear on schedule and build a nest on my pond in Lander, Wyoming.  They share the pond with the domestic geese and I never tire of watching them from the studio window.  The Canadas will remain and raise their brood and then climb to the sky as they have for thousands of years.

No other creature connects me to the wilderness like the Canada Goose.  Their haunting call is the call of the wild and symbolizes the human need for freedom for we are all wanderers in spirit.  

What are human beings without animals?

If all animals creased to exist, human beings

would die of great loneliness of the spirit.

                                                 - Chief Seattle

 Late Arrival - Original etching by Sandy Scott