MOURNING TO DUSK
Handmade with love, let these mournings doves bring you feelings of safety, peace and love.
You can collect them in my shop. (Here is the link to works page with all three sets.)
When I was a girl, I experienced some of my summers north of New York City. Nowadays, I can no longer call myself a city girl. Running around the woods with a couple of dogs looking for adventure before the days of middle school in Manhattan arrived. Soaking in the neighborhood swimming hole. Writing with rocks on bigger rocks. Walking down the creek to the lake. Catching a fish and eating it, too. Building little rock, moss, and twig homes for imaginary creatures and singing in the woods for hours, with no one else to witness but the husky.
cooOOoo-wooo-woo-woooo
As a child, I thought that call came from an owl. Ha. Of course not though. Spending summers in the Catskills, I learned to appreciate that eerie coo-coo. I’m expressing intimacy in these prints. Zenaida macroura. How about that, eh? Known by a few common names, such as mourning dove, turtle dove, Carolina pigeon. Do you know one I haven’t listed?
A mourning dove is a graceful, slender-tailed, small-headed dove that can be found all across America. This was one of the reasons I chose it as the symbol for my first block print in years. It feels inviting and serene. It feels unifying in the bones and in spirit. That everything is all right. We’re all here.
If I ever get into hunting, I might let you know what I think; they’re supposed to be tasty. I love my plants and eat them, too. What about you?
Coo-ah coo-coo-coo.
In fact, as I write this now, I hear the familiar and soothing woo-woo outside the window. This reminds me to reflect on past events. Altho the mourning dove is called so because it sounds sad, it’s not (it wants to mate with its one & only; so romantic & wonderful!). When have mourning doves been prevalent in my life? They’re at the forefront of my mind now, as I write about them. I have written about them before. Now I am creating art inspired by them and what they symbolize.
This time around, the memories are associated mostly of two occasions. One was on the West Coast while the other was on the East Coast. In each scenario something significant was happening in my life. The mourning doves being present during these times definitely makes these times more memorable.
The mourning dove is known as a symbol from the angels, and at times, as messengers from the dead. I respect this perspective. The birds symbolize peace and tranquility. This is what I want to portray in my block prints. The stark violet ink against the warm colors, familiar to the safety of the womb. A profound loyalty. To each other and the self.
Mourning doves mate for life, which brings me to suggest collecting the birds in pairs. Vaguely resembling the yin-yang, the birds dance together in a cyclical motion. Upside down. Right side up. Around and around we go. Such lovely, peaceful and beautiful birds. They remind me of overcoming hard times and remembering that eventually things will be all right again sometime.
Do mourning doves symbolize for you? Have you noticed these birds in your area?
I call this mini series Mourning to Dusk. A little play on words; I can hear the song throughout the day. I have been itching to carve for a couple of years now (I love working with my hands) and I could not think of anything better than to make a block carving of the dove. Then I pressed and rubbed the paper over the violet-inked carving. If you know me by now, you know I am really into working on and with paper. For these pieces I painted lush, warm, fuchsia and dark-toned watercolor backgrounds for my mourning doves. I also hand-painted fluffy clouds. All paintings & prints are signed, dated numbered.
& there’s something about this carving I’ve made that made me realize, just now, that [perhaps this bird has not had the chance to flourish all the way just yet; just like some of us, we’re on our way. Spread those wing-feathers, flutter them; come on! Spread them out, shake them. Stop cringing and live! (I’m talking to myself and anyone else who needs to hear it, read it, be it.) !!!
I invite you to watch my art process video of these artworks.
If you are interested in these prints & paintings, you can find them up for sale in my shop here.
All artworks are handmade, matted, packaged and shipped by me with love. For inquiries: hello@diazee.art
xx diazee