Carolina Calling

Description

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Dempsey Essick is not just a bird lover; he is a bird fanatic. In addition to his beautiful depictions of birds in many of his paintings he is a past president of the N.C. Bluebird Society and speaks publicly about the plight of the Eastern Bluebird. He started a bird watching club in his own community and has come to be known as the Hummingbird Artist Outside his studio window he keeps a table full of tasty treats (everything from crushed egg shells to softened raisins to cornbread) for the birds so that, when he is working on a painting he can be constantly entertained by every type of songbird native to the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. Just recently, he was visited by an itinerant peacock who had undoubtedly heard about the free smorgasbord at the feeding station in the Essick back yard. The peacock hung around for a few days then departed for parts unknown.

For “Carolina Calling,” Dempsey has portrayed a pair of cardinals on the limb of a dogwood which is in full bloom. It is the nesting season and the cardinals, who mate for life, are looking for the ideal spot to raise their family. The cardinals and the dogwood are official symbols of North Carolina.

Pilot Mountain, in the background, is not an “official” symbol but it is one of the best known landmarks in the state. Centuries ago, the Sauratown Mountains in Surry County stood tall and imposing but, over the years the mountains have eroded away leaving the spectacular knob of quartzite that we now call “Pilot Mountain.” The mountain served as a guidepost for the earliest natives and for the later settlers as they migrated south to settle Piedmont North Carolina.

Pilot Mountain is the perfect background for Dempsey’s painting; it establishes the locale, adds interest to the overall picture and brings a touch of natural beauty into the life of every viewer.

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