Two birds this week, #22 above, a mystery bird I finished this morning and #21, the macaw below. I’ve mentioned before how the charcoal pieces I like best aren’t always the most popular ones on social media. For instance, I love the macaw, but so far it hasn’t taken off like last week’s rooster or the stork from a few weeks ago. Baffling really, it used to happen with the painted birds, but with them I knew who would get the most hits. These two are a return to the smaller size the series started out with. I plan to do more in this size while I’m in the UK this month, partly because the paper, a smooth 12x12” Arches watercolor block, fits in my carry-on, and partly because I really like how the charcoal grabs the surface. In an effort to become a part of the Newcastle Upon Tyne art community, I have joined the Newbridge Project (https://thenewbridgeproject.com/) and am in touch with the Vane Gallery (https://www.vane.org.uk/home) which is having an opening the evening I arrive. And since I plan to also do much larger work while I’m there, I will buy some paper at The Newcastle Arts Centre (https://newcastle-arts-centre.co.uk/) shop where they have an excellent selection - although I’ll have to leave those pieces behind since they will be way too big for my suitcase. I’m taking a different route this trip since I loath Heathrow with a passion and got stuck in Amsterdam overnight after missing my connection on the last visit, I’m going through Dublin this time. The layovers will be longer but I won’t be tearing through an airport with minutes to spare because this or that airplane taxied around for an hour. I hate how these trips start with an hour and a half drive to the airport shuttle that may take two hours to get to Logan. And don’t get me started on being stuck on a plane although Logan can be easy or a total nightmare depending on things that are annoying and unavoidable. Given the US government shutdown and whatever may be happening with TSA searches and Customs, there are plenty of things that are out of my control. Fingers crossed I can get back in the country when I return in November. Onward.