It was over two years ago when I was asked by Deb Martin of Gallery 100 to join in a group show of animal paintings. I had just finished a small series of photos and paintings of farm animals and thought was a great opportunity to explore the subject further. Little did I know that chickens would take a hold of me? As part of my research I went to an event in Massachusetts called the “Poultry Congress”, it is basically a dog show for poultry, and there I fell in love with all the colors patterns sizes and shapes of these amazingly beautiful creatures.
The Chicken Series is an ongoing exploration of Heritage Breed chickens and roosters; in this Part II I used old Farmer & Friend magazines from 1920’s and 2008 Salem Press newspapers as my ground. Some are easily visible and the stories are really fun to read while others are there creating texture, color and patterns. The watercolors are a new medium I am investigating to make funny sometimes fantastic creatures with otherworldly colors but very real souls.
I hope they make you smile.
Leah McCloskey
Portfolio 2008
Watercolors 2008
Mixed media 2008
