I like many others have spent many happy hours gazing at the graceful swans on the lake at Marlay Park. This painting was done from a photograph after I had watched them preening their feathers at the side of the lake and I was lucky enough to collect one huge white swan feather which I took back to the studio.
Swan Feather, Watercolour
It was a few days later, after finishing this painting that I decided to name it Swansong, the reason for which I don't know. It seemed a bit dramatic. But indeed it was the last painting of the lake that I painted for a number of years, and it was the last time I captured the lady swan, who was to pass away a few short months later. It's funny how these words and feelings come into my head while painting. I'm convinced I enter a different time, or realm and I know things that are not known at that time, or feel things, that eventually come to pass.
The original painting has gone to a lovely home, and although we miss her, so has our lovely swan lady.
Swansong, Marlay Park Watercolour