2023 Lawn Duck, 12×16″, wide painted edges, acrylic on non-aromatic canvas

On the way to dinner with friends we stopped at Larnach Castle in New Zealand. Friendly ducks on the lawn offered a photo op. I crawled closer for an eye level shot. A big white duck gave me side-eye, but didn’t move. I hurried back to my friends happy, although they all had quizzical expressions.

About then a vile aroma wafted upwards. My formerly white shirt sported an abstract pattern of green and gray mashed streaks. I was relegated to the very back of the car normally reserved for cargo. I tried rinsing my shirt in the restaurant restroom, which helped very little. Eventually I painted the clever duck to include in a series of farm animal paintings.