"Buzzards and Dreadful Crows": Re-post

NOTE: This is a re-post of one of my favorite pieces of last year that got absolutely zero attention. Color me crying.


T. Renner, "Buzzards and Dreadful Crows (for Bob Pollard)," 2008, watercolor, gouache, ink on paper, 8" x 11".

Yet another work that has its genesis in the St. Louis Art Museum's "The Immediate Touch" exhibition, which closed on Sunday, September 7.

The background watercolor was inspired by Anselm Kiefer, the vertical and horizontal lines by Gunter Forg, and the window box with flowers by Rudi Troger. The marks in the windows were probably inspired by Helmet Dorner.

"Buzzards and Dreadful Crows" was completed over the course of several weeks, with a new element being added as I felt they were needed to complete the picture. I only decided on adding the birds of prey on Sunday night and added them this morning. My first attempts -- on a separate piece of paper -- with ink and brush yielded entirely too friendly looking birds. A quick image search on-line provided the necessary brain-jog, and, after a few practice sketches with pen and ink, I finished the job.

The title, "Buzzards and Dreadful Crows," comes from the great Guided By Voices song of the same name from the classic album "Bee Thousand:"

"The lifeblood -- the lighthouse flashing
16 chicks remain on watch
For the wheels to come rolling in
And they do...
Yes they always do
I’d be bored and disappointed if they didn’t

Buzzards and dreadful crows
Right on the tip of my nose
They wait like cats and fly out
For the light in my eyes to die out
And it does...
Yes it always does
I’d be shocked and removed if it didn’t

Buzzards and dreadful crows
A necessary evil, I suppose
There’s something in this deal for everyone
Did you really think that you were the only one?

Buzzards and dreadful crows
A necessary evil, I suppose
There’s something in this deal for everyone
Did you really think that you were the only one?
You were the only one"

Music and lyrics by Robert Pollard and Jim Pollard.