Penny and Shelly Chicken Out

Penny and Shelly
Chicken Out

at the Springvale Public Library's Bruce McMillan
Watercolor Painting Chickens in Springvale, Maine
four minute demo painted on August 8, 2017
10" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and
Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness and
most permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Arches cold press rough 100% cotton watercolor paper
online at my art blog HERE where you may leave a comment
Gifted to the Springvale Public Library

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Photo of Shelly (chicken) and
Vicki Clendaniel (chicken keeper)
at the Springvale Public Library in Springvale,
Maine on August 8, 2017

A Mystery
As a chicken peered
at her keeper's locks,
the color puzzled,
both like a red fox,
yet hair, not feathers,
flowing, so she gawks,
for she had the comb,
so unorthodox.

© 2017 Bruce McMillan

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 Strange but True Facts
"Why shouldn't
a chicken cross the road?
Because it would be a fowl proceeding."
(edited) from Potter's American Monthly,
1892, page 319

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Painting Chickens
Using Watercolors at
the Springvale Public Library
with Bruce McMillan
August 8, 2017
 

3
Our models, Penny (white) and Shelly (red )
were ready, posing for an audience of fifty-eight
young and old and older artists.
 

4
After a quick story
about my grandson's
painting advice, "Grampa Bruce,
it's a painting, you can do anything,"
everyone gathered around my easel
for a four-minute demo to inspire
their painting freedom adventure.
 

5
And as I circulated among the artist,
they painted their chickens on Strathmore
postcard size watercolor paper,
soothing to send if they wished.
 

6
I was fascinated to see that the cage
disappeared in all but two paintings,
one by an adult and one
by a young artist.
 

7
Young artist painted alongside
older artists, some accomplished
adults, who'd painted watercolors before,
and all created masterpieces.
 

8
I was impressed how the artists
used the white space of the paper
for their white chicken (Penny).
 

9
"Every child is an artist. The problem is
how to remain an artist once we grow up."
-Pablo Picasso
 

10
My thanks to Librarian Assistant Samantha
"Sam" Clendaniel (here) and her daughter Vicki
for bringing our model chickens to paint,
Penny (white) and Shelly (red) and
for taking many of these photos.
And thanks to Children's Librarian
Sheila Dube for organizing our
event and for  taking our
portraits with the
chickens. What
a great
watercolor day.

Springvale Public Library HERE