This is a special weekend- Birds In Art is currently underway at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. My great friend (and great human being), Barry Van Dusen, is being honored as this year’s Master Artist. A brilliant choice, more than richly deserved. I’m guessing that at this very moment he’s on the podium, gold medallion on silk ribbon around his neck, giving a stirring speech. Also at this moment: a black carriage drawn by a blond-maned draft horse is trotting an elegantly-dressed group to a restaurant down the street, and an accordion player  is squeezing out “Fernando’s Hideaway” alongside the canal. Nothing whatever to do with Birds in Art, but a little detail never hurts.

Congratulations, Barry!

Sketching with him has always been among my most priceless experiences. He can brush the richest watercolors into autumn marsh scenes, patiently draw shorebirds through a scope on windy coasts, and sit comfortably cross-legged in leaf litter, painting early-blooming hepaticas. And make it look easy as breathing. To Barry, I owe much. 

In honor of today’s ceremony: a few bird sketches, a little landscape, and one random photo from Copenhagen. Wish I could be in Wisconsin. For a few moments, anyway.

Happy Friday.