The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #14

There was only one thing I truly wanted to see when we moved to Maine... a moose.  My wish was granted - twice.  The first moose was just a baby.  It was 7 ft. tall and a gangly youth.  It hung out in our back yard when we lived in Thomaston and in the neighborhood for about a week.  Everyone speculated that the poor thing was sick as its mother abandoned it.

The first day I saw it, I grabbed my camera and ran outside to shoot it.  I ran up behind the closest tree, aimed my camera and shot a couple of photographs.  Then realizing how big and wild this creature is, I quickly retreated back to the safety of my house. (This was not one of my smartest moments.) Later on in the week, the moose began attacking cars and the police had to put it down.

The other moose was seen on one of my early morning walks near the Mill River with my walking buddy. It was out in a field near the railroad tracks that parallels the river.  He was a full grown one with antlers.  I didn't have my camera with me that day and was furious. My walking buddy thought I was crazy.

When I finally went to paint my picture, I incorporated the photo for the body and had to imagine the rest for the antlers.  The background is also a creation of my imagination.

The painting is titled: Reflection.  This painting won second place at the Union Fair. The painting is now hung in a fine automotive garage in Jacksonville North Carolina. It was used as payment for repair work on our camper on the way to Georgia in the fall of 2014. Even though I "bartered" my work, the owner of the shop absolutely loved it.

And there's another bottom line - my work being appreciated and shared.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill