Recently I received a request from a Maria Klawe to use several of my photos as models for watercolor paintings. For complicated reasons my reaction to such requests is usually lukewarm at best, but I had the time so I did a little research on Maria. The more I read the more intrigued I became.
Maria 1) is an educator, like me, and she’s a highly visible advocate for women in STEM fields, which I like. 2) she’s Canadian by birth – my mother was Canadian and I have a soft spot for almost everything “Canada”, and 3) she founded The Aphasia Project, a collaborative project to study aphasia and develop cognitive aids for people suffering from it. After a nasty fall and devastating brain injury (TBI), my daughter Shannon still suffers from aphasia, years later. So for me, #3 was the hook.
I responded to Maria’s request and we made a “deal”.
Part of the deal is that she would do a somewhat stylized painting for me of this Burrowing Owl photo. It’s one of my favorite photos but for some reason I’d never hung a print of it in my home. So my wheels started turning as I thought about the possibility of hanging a painting next to a print of the photo that was used as a model for the painting.
Maria’s 13″ x 18″ painting arrived yesterday. I love it, in part because it’s so very different from the completely realistic photos I’m used to. So at this point, it’s my plan to have it framed and hang it next to a print of the original owl photo. I already have a wall picked out for them.
Maria is highly accomplished in a variety of fields. If you’re curious about her as I was, here’s a link to her Wikipedia page.
Ron
PS – I learned a lesson while I was waiting for my painting to arrive. Maria sent it to me from New York via USPS Priority Mail. It was supposed to be delivered to my home last Thursday but it didn’t arrive until yesterday, four days late. It was obvious to me that during those four days the online tracking information was inaccurate, to the point that it was completely unreliable. Almost all of it.
I won’t be using USPS Priority Mail anytime soon. Priority? Yeah, right.
Another artist might have “corrected” the differing size of the pupils, but she retained their independence in her rendering.
Good point, Kenneth.
It is beautiful. It brings tears to my eyes and heart.
Plus, what an outstanding woman.
Take Care,
Kaye
I agree on both counts, Kaye.
Count me as a fan as well — of the painting and the painter! One of my closest — and most brilliant — friends from high school went to Harvey Mudd and I’ve had a few students over the years who have gone. Gotta love a school whose unofficial mascot is a wart (architectural design, not verruca).
Ron, you are a pretty coolamatious dude to be on Dr. Klawe’s radar. Of course, we already knew that. ❤️ As the others have mentioned, love that Dr. Klawe included your watermark and am looking forward to seeing the final arrangement on your wall.
A wart? Now I’ve gotta do some more research!
Thanks, Marty.
Simply stunning. That has always been one of my favourite photos of yours (that I have seen) and Ms Klawe’s interpretation is incredible.
I am so very glad that you agreed to her request and grateful that you showed us the result.
Priority mail here seems to mean that they make it a priority to misplace it.
Thanks, EC. Yes, it does seem that way.
A very cool story! What a lovely result! Enjoy!
(And so ethical, with the FP copyright included. That may be one of most important things, what with AI taking over the world. The summer 2023 Audubon magazine just had an interesting article “What Does Generative AI mean for Bird and Nature Photography?”)
I’ll have to read that article, Carolyn. I’m not a fan of AI.
What a treasure! Pls post a pic of the two when displayed in your home 😄
I’ll try to remember, Kathleen. It might be a while.
How great to have these two pieces of art displayed next to each other. The impressionistic aspects of the painting draw my eye toward details I don’t necessarily notice immediately in the photo (owing of course to Maria’s talent and eye for interesting detail). So displaying them together should really increase the appreciation of both. Thanks for sharing the painting and Maria’s story.
“displaying them together should really increase the appreciation of both”
That’s what I’m hoping for. Thanks, Bill.
Interesting story and an excellent version of one of my favorite Ron Dudley photos. I think my all time favorite is a soaring Bald Eagle, but the Burrowing Owls are probably next. Really good job by Ms. Klawe. I’m curious as to how she knew about the owl photo. Has she visited the web site previously, or was she referred to your work by someone?
And yes, I have always laughed at them using the word Priority.
Everett, she found my photos online and then when she contacted me I sent her a few of my favorites.
A two-way honor for both of you ! I especially like her use of
palest blue washes to give character to the white areas and
additional visual “life” to the painting as a whole.
Good to know, Kris. I wasn’t sure how some folks might feel about that pale blue.
Love what she did to the eyes in the painting. They grab the viewer.
Catherine, Maria sent me a photo of the painting when she was just beginning it and she pretty much started with the eyes. Pretty interesting. I probably should have posted that preliminary photo too.
Beautiful painting and back story! Now and then you do run into people worthy of their requests of you…… 🙂
Local radio had a bit on “Crick” vs. “Creek” this morning indicating it is a MT thing tho I know there are other areas of the country that use it also…… 😉
Appears the Flathead and some of the highline got good rain resterday – we got .1 but we’ll take it………
Judy, some folks in other areas may use “crick” but for me it’ll always be a MT thing. And it’ll always be crick.
Yep…….. 🙂
Great story of why you have the painting. Both your photo & the painting will be wonderful on your wall. Maria Klawe certainly does have the ‘”credentials”.
Indeed she does. Thanks, Laurie.
Gorgeous photo and beautiful interpretation by Ms Klawe. Unfortunately all bets are off for mail crossing an international border. Customs can hold things up for days.
Thanks, Sheila. Maria is Canadian by birth. She’s now a citizen of the US. The painting was shipped from New York. I’ll edit my text to indicate that.
Love Burrowing Owls. Love the photo and the painting. both images really capture the personality of Burrowing Owls. And I really love how Maria Klawe incorporated your FP logo in the painting.
What a treasure!
“I really love how Maria Klawe incorporated your FP logo in the painting.”
Michael, Maria did that on her own accord, rather than at my request. I didn’t think of it but I’m glad she did.
Awesome… to the Both of You!
<3
CJ
Thanks, CJ.