Acrobats in the Freezing Wind
I remember the first time I saw a starling, now at least 35 years ago. I was in a bank parking lot and a small flock was strutting and pecking around on the lawn. I thought they were such extraordinary birds—as Mary Oliver writes, “chunky and noisy but with stars in their black feathers”—and I excitedly went home to look up my find. When I discovered they were ordinary European starlings, I felt foolish. If I was going to get to know birds, I was going to have to do better.
Now here I am, all these years later, revisiting my foolishness. I see starlings gathered at the edge of snowy and stubbled cornfields. And then they lift off in unison, dancing across the sky — “acrobats in the freezing wind” — extraordinary after all.
Tips & Techniques- Starlings look black and brown from a distance, but they have a remarkable variety of color up close, and especially during the breeding season. While you could paint them using black paint, you would lose the vibrance and variety achieved with color mixes that yield richer darks. I used masking fluid for the white markings and then painted several layers of alizarin crimson, ultramarine, burnt sienna, and veridian watercolor to convey the iridescent purples and greens. Once the masking fluid was removed, I toned down some of the whites on the underside with a pale and loose wash of these same colors, and used them again to suggest the murmuration across the page.
Drawn In 
Just beautiful!!!
Thanks Diane!
Beautifully depicted, Jean! My encounter with starlings was like yours. I wondered what those noisy, stubby tailed black birds were successfully commandeering a woodpecker nest hole high in a tree. Peering at them through binoculars I was amazed at their dazzling colors (Mary Oliver was right ……. They are star studded). But it wasn’t until witnessing their murmurations that my respect was completely won over!
I love how you included their sky dancing along with a beautiful painting of their body colors. Thanks also for sharing how you achieved the starling’s dazzle! Have an extraordinarily wonderful day, Jean!
Thanks, Barb! This one was tough to do, but a good challenge. Search out the whole poem– it’s a good one.
You are very welcome ……… you made this composition and painting look so easy, Jean! And I will look for Mary Oliver’s whole poem. Thanks again!
Found the full poem Starlings in Winter ….. so full of energy and fun and frolicking! Thanks for pointing me in that direction. Reading the poem brought up a few questions …… did the poem inspire your painting, or did an early spring flock of brave starlings? Or perhaps both?
I was first inspired by the bird, then started to notice more flocking together in a nearby field. The poem came last and was a lucky find.
I love watching the murmurations although we don’t see them so often around here now. Their iridescent plumage is gorgeous and I love how you’ve painted it.
Thanks Janette. It’s always tricky to get a variety of colors down without losing the light altogether.
I have been looking at starlings, thinking about drawing some, but just haven’t worked up the courage. Yours is magnificent and inspiring.
Beautifully designed and painted. It brought back memories of whirling flocks of birds. I didn’t know that starling swarms are called murmurations. Your painting inspired me to google about them and I discovered that your colors and the little v-shaped white feathers are right-on.
Thanks Elizabeth! I’m glad this led you to find out more!
Give them a try Paula! If you don’t have masking fluid you could add a good white gouache at the end.
Hi Jean, So glad you showed a murmuration. The starlings have been doing that here lately—landing in a tree so they look like black leaves then launching skyward into shapeshifting clouds and ribbons. I love how you gave half the page to this behavioral magic and have the solitary bird on the right looking to the left at it. Thank you for describing how you painted this star. Judy
Thanks Judy– It’s just Birds & Words! I wondered if I should have put the poem on the opposite page and arranged the murmuration differently, but I do like the sense that the starling might launch off and join them. Glad you are seeing these shape-shifters in VT.
I love Starlings — I’ve always thought they are beautiful and magical-looking, and you’ve captured that!
Thanks Beth!
What a gift! You turned a trash bird (my father-in-law’s name for Starlings) into something beautiful and magical. Thank you for sharing your story, your journal, and your process!
I’ve heard that moniker “trash bird” too. Sometimes, we just need to look again.
Stunning! I absolutely love how you depicted the mumuration, capturing the sweeping movement!
I’m glad I added that element. It helped to pull the whole page together.
Love your starling watercolour (and the poem!)
Thanks Liz– I enjoyed seeing your garden this week, too, as we are in the dead of winter here.
As always, your detail and delicacy are so beautiful. Mother Nature is in good hands here.
That’s very sweet of you to say.
Such a beautiful bird, Starlings! You have capture it using watercolor, making it look so magically beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Jane. Not the easiest bird to paint, but worth the effort!
So eloquent are your words that match the precision of your delicate artwork. Thank you for the beauty displayed in all your artwork. It seems to me that you “see” with both your eyes and heart as well. Thank you.
Thank you Bernadette!
Hi Jean, The Starling you painted is lovely, I have been trying to find the Starlings that we have here they are very different – I think! We never see them in their acrobatic flying, but we do see the Canada Geese, they are very interesting to watch in large numbers coming here to stay the winter! Cheers
Georgia Ratcliffe gratcliffe4@mac.com
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MAGNIFIQUE
Just telling you how much I enjoy your post that arrives in my mail box each Sunday morning.
I was intrigued by your offering of the class on birds and words through Windsor Art Center ………. But I broke my collar bone on Christmas day and I could not start an art class in early February.. If by any chance you re-do this class I would love to know about it. I follow the listings on Windsor Art Center site too and have tried shorter classes before but this longer one was so very inviting.
Best wishes.
BJ Yonck
Hi BJ– Thank you for your thoughtful note. I appreciate it. This class is very popular– it’s going on now and it’s really fun. I’m so sorry about your broken collar bone– how terrible! Good to know you are interested in Birds and Words…I may offer it again or do something to follow it up. Stay tuned.
Your starling is beautifully and accurately captured! I was amazed when I first caught one with my long lens, since I expected “just another black bird” and instead found the same wonderful hints of color that you did. I love the color names of your paints, too, they sound as exotic as as your starling looks.
Thanks– I just read your winter colors post and enjoyed seeing the birds and deer you photographed. Very beautifully captured!
I had taken a break from my editing to read your post – serendipitous!