Point Campbell Study

Study for a new motif, in black ink wash on watercolor sketchbook paper, 6” x 4”. In late April, as snow and ice receded after a long bitterly cold winter, there were reports that large flocks of geese had arrived on the mudflats at the coast. Eager for signs of spring after months of winter and scarce birds, we hiked out on the Coastal Trail through woods to Point Campbell. The sounds of distant geese could be heard from nearly a mile away, and the din grew as we got closer. On the mud and ice of the flats in low sunlight of late afternoon, hundreds upon hundreds of geese of four kinds were present foraging and at rest on their long northward journey. Canada and cackling geese were in the vast majority, but a conspicuous group of snow geese were present along with an occasional greater white-fronted goose. The throngs of geese scattered among the gray-brown dry grasses were a welcome, thrilling sight. Ideas for new artwork have been simmering ever since, and here’s a first distillation of the motif.