Sunday 18 September 2011

A Great-looking Canadian in Germany

 Isn’t he/she (it’s hard to tell with Canada Geese) a beautiful bird!  This one looks especially striking painted by Albrecht Rissler in gouache on (IMHO) the perfect shade of softly grey-toned card.
I’d have to say, however, that the appearance of Canada Geese is just about their only redeeming feature.  Albrecht was nice enough not to refer to them as an invasive scourge, but the Americans are not so forgiving… I’ve heard they regularly bag a few hundred Canada Geese and feed them to the homeless, and I wish somebody would do the same here in Victoria!  Our defenses have been limited to barking dogs – quite effective, on golf courses for example, where they employ Labs and Alsatians.  But the geese do not respond well to condominium-sized dogs, whom they out-weigh and ignore.

9 comments:

Cathy Gatland said...

Lovely graphic rendition of a characterful (if unappreciated) bird - the circular lines give him a great waddle, and I love how the script adds to the composition.

Felicity Grace said...

A beautiful card and his pose and expression so well captured!

Making A Mark said...

I now see what you mean about Albrecht's postcard this month being an unusual subject

Did you know that some of the whiskey distilleries in Scotland keep geese as "guard dogs"? Apparently it works very well - they combine attack capabilities with lots of noise if they are disturbed!

Albrecht has caught the look of the Canada Goose very well.

vivien said...

A friend, older than me, who worked on a farm in her youth wrote a hilarious tale of the goose at the farm


It would attack on sight so she (all of about 4 stone of her!) had to grab it by the neck as she opened the gate, hold it at arms length while she crossed the paddock and then throw it away from her, diving quickly through the gate the other side with it in hot pursuit! She had to cross the paddock many times a day.

Great sketch

Robyn Sinclair said...

I just want this to me mine! Brilliant.

Vivien - LOL. What a brave friend you have.

Desiree's Designs said...

Wow, this is so different but I love it. I have always loved the look of these geese Geese are mean, good watch dogs! It worked keeping my boyfriends from coming to walk me to school!

Pat said...

Albrecht's wonderful stylized painting has brought many stories to this comment section, and here is mine. I had a goose friend once so I do have a special place in my heart for them. His owner would walk him on a leash in the park across the street from my house.

Alison Staite said...

Ha! These are such a pest on the River Thames too! I love Albrecht's card though, a reminder that they are rather magnificent birds!

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

This is such an exciting postcard from you this time Albrecht...I love the proud distinguished posture of your goose...so well done with the gouache!
Marília