Aviana
Aviana by Erika Husselmann 102x76x38, mixed media on linen Aviana I have painted Aviana (guardian of the birds) a few times now, always including birds, some mythical, some invented, non-existent, but this time four white doves made their presence known. I love doves, their melancholy coos, their gentle ways. A Barbary dove visited us a few years back - a slightly hanging left wing, a wonky toe, all functional and perfectly healed but clearly identifiable. I thought it might have been hand-reared and would eat from my hand after getting used to my voice. Every morning it would walk in the back door, cooing like I didn't own a cat. One day it returned with a lady friend, as if to introduce her to us and say good-bye at the same time. It returned only once more the following day, leaving some twigs as a gift. I fed it one last time and that was it. Bird was off to a new exciting life. I still miss it - a chance encounter with a very special Barbary dove, and can't help ...