Charming

.

No small gathering

a tree-full of goldfinches

some two score or more

.

by Scooj

Charming

.

First sighting this year

goldfinches sweep into view

uplifting moment

.

by Scooj

4521. Upfest 2022 (18)

One of Bristol’s biggest losses (in street art terms) in recent years was the departure of Aspire, who took up residence in the old smoke, making the opposite decision to the one I made many years ago. I definitely know where I’d rather live, and it is not in London. On the upside, Aspire does come to visit Bristol from time to time, and he always seems to dazzle us during Upfest.

Aspire, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Aspire, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

Aspire specialises in creating the most beautiful pictures of birds and in this Upfest piece he has perfectly captured my favourite British bird, the Goldfinch. His work is never complete without his trademark pixelation, and it is interesting to see from this work in progress, that he adds the pixels at the end of the painting process.

Aspire, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Aspire, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

I love this piece, it feels very uncluttered, and the neutral skyline background serves to lift the goldfinch out from the boards. If you are interested in seeing more of Aspire’s work, I recommend you take a little look at a gallery I compiled in 2018, and updated today.

I leave you with three Haiku poems I wrote about goldfinches:

Charm

Goldfinches return

colours exaggerated

in bright winter sun

Lucky Charm

One…two…five…seven…

nine goldfinches together

in our silver birch.

Haiku 7

Vibrant tricolor

and flanking golden flashes

majestic goldfinch

Charm

 

Goldfinches return

colours exaggerated

in bright winter sun

 

by Scooj

Lucky charm

 

One…two…five…seven…

nine goldfinches together

in our silver birch.

 

by Scooj

Meeting

.

On my arrival

I am greeted by a young 

pair of goldfinches. 

.

by Scooj