Listening To The Birds

Small barn painting by Leo Dodd
Small barn painting by Leo Dodd

My father has a miniature watercolor station next to his chair in the living room of his apartment, the tiny “travel” paint set, a couple of brushes, some water and a small black notebook where he has been painting barns and cityscapes. These small paintings (the one above is shown almost actual size) are looser and more sketch-like than the large watercolors he does in his studio in the next room. He used the one above for his Holiday card and called it “Evening Exercise Sketch.” The back of his card had one of my favorite quotes. “Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out your horn.” – Charlie Parker

Next year he can use, “Don’t play the saxophone. Let it play you.” – Charlie Parker

4 Comments

4 Replies to “Listening To The Birds”

  1. I think I may have a two paintings your dad did, sold at a Thieves Market in Iowa City, Iowa. They were purchased in separate years and were a gift from my husband to me. The paintings hang in the office were we both work. Could be a shot in the dark…
    Michele Finnegan

  2. Hi Paul, just dropping by, was thinking of you and Peggy! Lovely watercolor. Happy new year and hope we’ll see you (and Rick and Monica and all the Rochester gang) again in 2015.

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