Wild Things Artwork
by Patsy Lindamood

"A Bright Moment on a Dreary Winter Day", 15.5" x 21", Pastel on Ampersand Pastelbord.

This piece has exhibited in several different venues around the country, including the 6th National Art Exhibition at The Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, FL, in 2008; the Montana Interpretations Show 2008, held at The Clark Chateau, Butte, MT; the 23rd Annual Conservatory Art Classic 2008, The Bosque Conservatory, Clifton, TX; and the 10th International Juried Exhibition "For Pastels Only," Pastel Painters of Maine, Saco Museum, Saco, ME, 2009.

My reference for this piece was photographed on December 30, 2006, at Brazos Bend State Park, TX. I received a phone call on the way out to the park that my father had been admitted to the hospital in Jacksonville, FL. I spent the entire day in a quandry about whether to cut our trip short to return home. What started out as a gorgeous, sunny Texas winter day transformed into an almost totally dreary winter day for me. But when we came across this brilliant cardinal while hiking through the woods, my day was made. I knew as I photographed him that I would feature him in a painting. This bright red bird turned out to be the one bright moment in that whole dreary winter day.