Tuesday, December 15, 2009


Golden Goose 6.5 x 20.5 Mary Jansen

This wonderful guy posed for me beside the Salt Creek Trail in LaGrange, IL. He wouldn't let me get very close for a good reference photo but he sure did want the other geese to know how magnificent his plumage was! I enjoyed watching him on the banks of the river but it was a greater joy trying to capture his strutting bravado on paper! This was done on hot press Fabriano paper. I love the smooth surface for rendering feathered friends.

9 comments:

Vicki Greene said...

Terrific job! WOW, beautiful painting.

Mary Jansen said...

Thank you Vicki! Honestly, this one was such a joy to paint. I think I'm drawn to birds with attitudes!

Tracy Hall said...

What a beautiful painting Mary, absolutely glowing :)

Thanks so much for the gorgeous card (I don't seem to be able to find your email addy anywhere!).

I hpe you had a wonderful Christmas and very much looking forward to seeing what delights you will paint in the coming year!

Mary Jansen said...

Thank you Tracy! I'm glad you got your card too, (I know, it arrived after Christmas but the sentiment was the same! I struggle with out of country mailings...can never seem to get them sent on time!)
I too look forward to your 2010 creations! You never cease to amaze me with your incredibel work!

Mary Jansen said...

By the way...I've edited my profile so the email shows...don't know why I didn't do that sooner! Thanks for the reminder!

Jean Burman said...

How cool. Love the wide format of this painting. Gives it real punch... granted.... it already had punch but you know... EXTRA punch. Great work Mary

Mary Jansen said...

Thanks Jean. Yes...I love the wide format too. It has its own elegance I think!

Anonymous said...

I just saw this beautiful piece and many of your other works at the Oak Park Conservatory today... what a treat!! I think I spent more time looking at your paintings than I did the flowers in the green houses! I especially love this goose because it brings to mind a woman I know who is THE biggest goose advocate I've ever had the joy in meeting. She rescues many types of birds and visits many lake shores each week to clean up fishing line and hooks. These carelessly discarded fishing items often lead to injury, suffering and death in shore birds and other wildlife. But Amy (that's her name) focuses on preventative measures and I think that is simply great. Her favorite bird?... the Goose..she is dismayed when she hears people say "Oh! I can't stand geese!" or "It's ONLY a goose!" So, what I started out saying was that it was wonderful surprise to see such a beautiful painting of such a beautiful bird and knowing that you can also see the beauty of this feathered creature, made me smile all the more. Thank you!

Mary Jansen said...

Thank you back! What a lovely comment and story! Made my day! Yes, I love the Canada Geese. They are majestic birds with attitude! I love to discover their offspring tromping through the grass in May. The parents are so protective and watchful and the babies just go about their way ricocheting off this tree or another. I'm so pleased to find another goose admirer!