Feeding Geese

by Larry Whitler

Canvas Print

$88

Framed Print

$113

Art Print

$63

Poster

$63

Metal Print

$111

Acrylic Print

$119

Wood Print

$91

Tapestry

$39

Throw Pillow

$24

Fleece Blanket

$46

Duvet Cover

$98

Shower Curtain

$68

Bath Towel

$33

Ornament

$9.50

Jigsaw Puzzle

$38

Tote Bag

$23

Weekender Tote Bag

$43

Zip Pouch

$22

Portable Battery Charger

$47

Yoga Mat

$60

Greeting Card

$4.95

Spiral Notebook

$15

Sticker

$3.50

iPhone Case

$26

Beach Towel

$33

Round Beach Towel

$70

Weekender Tote Bag

$43

Coffee Mug

$13

Men's Clothing

$25

Women's Clothing

$25

Youth Clothing

$21

Toddler Clothing

$19

Baby Clothing

$23

Title

Feeding Geese

Artist

Larry Whitler

Medium

Painting - Digital Dry Brush

Description

Six miles.
My brother, Bob, and I would ride our bicycles six miles to get to this pond.
It was somewhere in Massapequa. I think.
It’s been so long ago.
But I remember the distance.
Six miles.
It was a badge of honor, of sorts, to casually bring it up in a conversation.
Casually, because we were told it was rude to brag.
It felt like we were WAY in the ”country.”
By the way, I never really knew WHY we would say “in the country” anytime we were ANYWHERE but in the city.
But Massapequa felt like the country. It wasn’t really any different than North Merrick but they had this park.
And they had this POND!
Bob and I ordered some fishing poles and fishing gear from the back of a comic book.
When the package arrived in the mail we discovered it had REAL minnows packed in shrink wrap.
BOY, did THEY STINK!
So we took our fishing poles and stinky minnows on our bicycles and we rode SIX MILES!
We couldn’t wait to cast our lines into the pond.
We waited. Did a lot of unnecessary reeling (it was just fun, I guess). But we caught no fish.
Bob was the smart one. He was two years older than me so I followed his lead. Cast and reel, cast and reel, cast and reel.
Still, nothing.
No casual bragging was going to come from THIS fishing trip.
Fast forward 50 years.
I visited this pond with my 30 year old son. We stood there for a moment watching these children feed the ducks and the Canadian Geese.
I told him about my fishing trip with Uncle Bob. I told him about the stinky minnows. I told him about the persistent reeling.
And then, in a Barney Fife kind of delivery, I mentioned… no, I CASUALLY mentioned, the six miles.
I painted this digitally using Procreate with the dry brush.