Turkey Vulture of Love bidding has started!!!!

 

Here is my painting, so far, for the Forest to Frame benefit for Spokane Art School.  I would say I am probably a little over 2/3 done. It is a 16 x 20 acrylic painting on sealed and gesso’d hardboard. It’s called Turkey Vulture of Love and it comes with an original poem about, well, the turkey vulture of love. You can bid on it here https://givebutter.com/c/forest-to-frame-2026/auction/items/1907486/bid. 

What have I been listening to, while I paint? I’m glad you asked. I have been listening to cassette tapes - the Blue Velvet Soundtrack, Marty Robbins, Mojo Nixon, The Cars, The Clash, Devo, etc. Some real “get in the head of the turkey vulture” tunes. 

If you want to read the poem, here it is. I collaborated with Nick the Beet in writing it and he is taking the credit for the words (it’s in our contract). 

Turkey Vulture of Love

To try and mend a broken heart 

Went I to the Forest of Finch 

Begging nature to do her part 

When a  flicker made me flinch

Laying alone was I - supine 

A rose petal rode the sky

Not from a branch of oak or pine

Released from heaven on high

Soaring smooth circles overhead

Dark form against gray so murky 

Found myself surprised - not dead

T’was a vulture best known as turkey 

In its strong beak he clasped a rose

Guess that’s from where the petal fell

The message seemed too on the nose

A tale he tried too hard to sell

Still his soaring  made me think of

Words, deeds I should have said and done 

Callousness that lost me my love

Teardrops fell with the setting sun

My sadness seemed to catch his eye

His holding pattern he did flee

He quit his current loop quite shy

And he landed right next to me

His presence gave me quite a start

The rose in his maw brushed my head

I tried to still my beating heart

And in my ear he clearly said

“I carry a rose in my beak

It has nothing to do with you 

It’s for my mate that I do seek 

She’s just broken out of the zoo

This flower’s hers to show my love

Sorry, I must not tarry on 

I stopped to circle you above 

Thinking you might be some carrion”

With that he rose off on his way

Giant wings with chicken’s feet

Which way he flew, I couldn’t say

As I moved quickly to my seat  

What I learned that day on forest lawn 

Turkey vulture, and me a winner

Grateful for my life, still I’ll be gone

When he brings his date for dinner

Nick the Beet