Rara Avis, Eric’s drawing challenge
Long ago, the Earth was new and the first group of humans lived in a lush valley and children still had feathers running up and down their spines so they could fly. But the elders were afraid that the children would learn to love the sky more than the ground and leave them alone and so the elders said to the children, “Children, tuck your feathers under your shoulder blades for you will not need them. Stay here on the ground where you belong and let Eagle rule the skies”, and so the children were obedient and did as they were told. But soon the weather began to change and the valley became frozen and the elders died and the children were left alone.
The children cried to Eagle, “Oh Eagle, we gave up our wings so you can rule the sky. Save us, show us a way out of the valley so humans may survive .” Eagle, who was obliged to care for the children, said, “You cannot follow me out of the valley for my voice is too soft, but I will return with help.” And she flew away and the next day she returned with Gull.
“Follow the Gull children,” she said, “His voice is loud and he will lead out of the valley.”
So the children gathered the rest of their possessions and followed the piercing cries of Gull who led them on a secret path thru the mountains, out of the frozen valley, and down to the sea shore.
The children thanked Gull and he said, “Children, here at the shore Eagle and I will watch out for you together.” And from that day on, children, if you’re good and a little lucky, you can just catch glimpses of Gull talking to Eagle. But you are safe because they watch over you from high above the Earth.
link to Rara Avis
Thank you so much for this drawing challenge Eric.
“Tell me your secrets”
Oil on canvas, 18″x 24″ 😀
Dearinger Designs
Veronica, this is incredible! I really really LOVE it!!!!
Veronica
Gosh Susan, thank you so much. 😀
tinyWOOLF
piercing as in a gull’s screech of a cry..? hey, i’ll be looking up at them in our tiny harbour here and think of your story! jeez, your painting looks góód! i loose myself inside its burned colours… magic? n?
Veronica
Thank you so much Nadine. I love, LOVE mixing the oils into soft blends. One of my most favourite things to do and the medium I trained in as a child. I love everything about my oils. 😀
Katrin
thanks for this wonderful story!
Veronica
You’re most welcome. 😀
Carole
Beautiful, mesmerizing painting, Veronica. I’ll remember this story to tell my grandkids when we’re at the beach.
Have a great week. xo Carole
Veronica
Thank you so much Carole. It’s a good one, but I made the story up. Actually I was looking on-line for a First Nations legend featuring sea gull but it seems they largely ignored gulls…lol.
eric
That’s a beautiful painting Veronica, and a well choosen title. I love your story. Now I know how it all began:)
Thanks for joining. – eric
Veronica
Lol, thank you so much Eric. This was a fun challenge. 😀
Stefanie Seltner
Oh first, your painting is wonderful, kind of mystic and very touching! And than to read that story, I never heard before, thank you very much, I love it! And I will have it in mind at my next walk on the lakeside.
x Stefanie
Veronica
Thank you Stefanie. I made the story up. 😀 It seemed to fit the painting.
bkdonegan
Such a great creation story! and so nice that Gull gets an honorable role in it- as Gulls are so often thought of harshly in modern culture.
Your painting is is so well done! This post was a real treat 🙂
Veronica
Aw, thank you so much Jill. I know what you mean. I made the story up because I couldn’t find any reference to gulls in First Nations stories at all. But I really like gulls. 😀
Lucia
Ah, thank you. But I belive, children still have feathers. I dream to find my inner child to remember how to fly. Great Story and atouching painting. Again, thank you.
Lucia
Veronica
Thank you so much Lucia, I believe you’re right! 😀
Sharmon Davidson
Veronica, this is SUCH a gorgeous painting, and a beautiful interpretation of rara avis. The story is wonderful; I’m assuming it is a native American myth. One of my personal myths, expressed in many of my paintings, is about a girl with one wing, so this really fascinated me. also, I am writing a children’s story about the beginning of the universe, where the characters/creators are a heron and a crow. Thanks for sharing this!
Veronica
Hi Sharmon, thank you very much. Actually, I made the story up…lol…but I do love Aboriginal legends and myths. Great that you’re writing a children’s book. I’d love to see it when it’s finished/published and get a copy for our little girls. 😀
Tammie
i bow to you and your creative abundance
and i smile and am thankful to have a peak into your world
i love your tale, was sucked in from the beginning
and then your gorgeous dreamy painting-wow!
Patrice A.
oh….Veronica!
i love your story, it’s wonderful
and that painting…. wauw
i want to paint a gull for years now
it’s my husbands nickname ;^))
thank you for this wonderful post!!!!
xx
daryledelstein
another amazing creation …