Kieran's Art

 Cedar Waxwing   Original artwork and festive wish for 2026 by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by the ear-full of migratory Cedar Waxwings that feast on the wild red berry in my neighborhood In the depths of drab winter burst forth a flock of cedar waxwings Chirpy, raucous, joyful and gregarious they tug at your heartstrings The wing tips are reddish resemble sealing wax, hence the common name With silky plumage of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow - no two the same Passerine birds that gather by the hundreds to eat berries chirping away Hence a flock of waxwings is called an 'ear-full' - true joy they convey Migratory birds that feast mostly on berries that they love to swallow whole  My only wish in 2026 is for you to have peace of body, heart, mind and soul

 Endangered Wood Ducks   Original artwork and a plea by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, to conserve the habitat and stop the unconscionable duck hunting, these magnificent birds are better alive than wall trophies that will fade. Male Wood Ducks were created in a brilliant explosion of color! Quite exceptional in the realm of mallards that are tad duller. Check out the iridescent plumage on the crest - how it sparkles.  In the morning sun, virility that has ducks swimming in circles. The blood red iris in the tear shaped eyes gleam like a shining gem,  A breathtaking sight, floating gracefully wearing its crest a diadem. Beauty this heavenly comes at a deadly price - the crosshairs of guns. Indiscriminate shooting has to stop ere these marvels will all be gone.

 Dragonflies, the world's deadliest predators   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by a video on the unique capabilities of dragonflies By far the deadliest predator in the world with 95% rate of kill. The only insect capable of hovering or flying backwards at will. The ultimate killing machine, 300 million years in the making! Each of the four wings moves independently, there's no escaping. Each compound eye has 30,000 lenses giving a near 360 degree vision. It processes motion five times faster than us with deadly precision! So instead of chasing prey it accurately calculates the flight path. Like a guided missile it strikes a flying prey like a psychopath. Dragonfiles can distinguish ultraviolet light that we can't even see. Its rice-sized brain has evolved for precision kills to the nth degree

 Yosemite Firefall   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by today's newspaper article on photographers from around the world decending on Yosemite National Park, California for the annual craze called "Yosemite Firefall Each winter Horsetail Falls in Yosemite National Park is set ablaze. A rare phenomenon that nature photographers from far and wide craze. The snow melt catches the setting sun dip below the horizon - voila! For a brief moment, molten lava seems to flowing; leaving all in awe. This requires clear skies and just the right amount of snow melt waters. Park rangers regulate traffic so diehard photographers become squatters. Spending days on end for that one magical shot in a million; Oh FOMO! When it happens everyone is mesmerized by nature's wonders in slow-mo.

 Keys to lifelong friendships     Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by meeting childhood friends at my high school graduation Golden Jubilee, some after 50 years Reconnecting with school friends after 50 odd years. Revived childhood memories full of laughter sans tears. Our race is run, an’ we’ve stepped off the treadmill. Time to renew friendships, laugh, reminisce and chill. People change as we all do, so best keep an open mind. Inseparable friends of old, might no longer be aligned. Don't try to change anyone as this only causes friction. Everyone has a compelling story so take time to listen. The shy quiet classmate is a surprising tour de force.  The underachiever later turned out to be the dark horse. Being present in the moment is really the most important thing, You’ll find common ground to stay connected like a key ring.

  Merry Christmas Today’s artwork and narrative by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, is inspired by the account of the Nativity from the Gospel of St John. May the newborn Jesus bring you peace of body, mind, heart and soul In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Born in humble circumstances on a cold night Like you and me in every way except sin Healing the sick, preaching peace to all   He came to what was his own but his own people did not accept him. By his death and resurrection he redeemed you and me If we only love God above all  And love one another as he loved us. Glory, Alleluia!! 

Reunion    Artwork and original ode by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025,  dedicated to the Golden Jubilee reunion of St Vincent's High School, Pune - The Class of 1976/1978 held on 20th December 2025    Let me take you back to June 1966 to St Vincent's School, Poona Timid tiny feet shuffled quietly into the first standard class The years rolled past and we became inseparable friends Growing up together, sharing all our joys and fears Some left us and others joined us on the journey Germaine, John and Praful all speedy sprinters Akbar and Haji were brickwall football backs Sunil, Sharad and Jayawant won all in TT Hemant was unbeatable in swimming Hoshi's Casablanca won first prize In 1976 we were the Class Xth SSC Time now to go our separate ways We rose to meet life's and how? Dare, do and win - we did Then fifty years later Time for reunion  Golden Jubilee 23/12/25

  Back to basics Original Sumi-e ink style artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Japanese Sumi-e ink painting stripped down to a few basic elements. The simplicity forces us to remove all the clutter and impediments The bonsai tree is a sign of eternal harmony between man and nature Portraying patience and balance pruned by its keeper to make it mature The lone crane accepts the inevitablity of day's end a sign of continuity It pairs for life returning back year after year, a testament of loyalty So with us, once we jettison the show and pretences, that's who we are Staying true to ourselves becomes so much easier and effortless by far

 The perfectly imperfect Oak   Original artwork and ode to Oak by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by the millions of Oaks that  are native to California No two Oak trees are alike, that's just how evolution made them grow, feral. Each starts out inconspicuously buried in the ground by a forgetful squirrel. The branches are all twisted and gnarled, quite useless for manufacturing use. Quite unlike bamboo, pine, fir, cedar, maple, mahagony, sal, teak and spruce. Its imperfections in a world that glorifies perfection saves it from the axe. Its abundant acorns are squirreled away far and wide buried in earth's cracks. A squirrel stores roughly 3000 acorns when winter makes food supplies dwindle. The hundreds left buried spring up to generate new forests - keeping it simple.