#2945 "Eastern Meadowlark Sing Loud"

There will be five paintings of the Eastern Meadowlark (so far): #2854 "Eastern Meadowlark"; #2942 "Meadowlark Silent Spring"; #2943 "Happy As A Lark"; #2944 "On Watch Meadowlark"; and #2945 "Eastern Meadowlark Sing Loud".

#2945 "Eastern Meadowlark Sing Loud"
18x14 inches oils on smooth cradled panel
Started May 3rd, 2025 

This Eastern Meadowlark was singing its heart out! I wanted to let those sound waves extend well beyond the panel, loud and clear. I tried to make these birds come alive even as they vanished from the landscape. 

As I have mentioned before, I use these posts not just for art but to learn more about the science. Art and science are compatible. Being an eternal student keeps me informed and life interesting. 

With global warming, you might notice that the weather goes from winter to summer seemingly overnight. Such was the case while I was painting on my Eastern Meadowlark series. There was no need for the Pacific Energy wood stove anymore when I started on #2945. Let me explain. 

A weaker jet stream is a direct result of global warming, in which the poles warm at rates greater than four times that at the equator. The meandering jet loops through the atmosphere, creating patterns resembling ox-bow lakes in the atmospheric ocean. At the start of my meteorological career in 1976, these blocking patterns were rare. Now blocks are a way of life in the weather. 

The following graphics will save a lot of words explaining the common blocking patterns witnessed on current weather maps. 

The jet stream loops between the highs and lows in the atmosphere, which are like gears in the weather machine. The "chain" links all of the cogs of the atmospheric engine so that they work together as a single heat engine that converts the fuel in the atmosphere into wind and weather. 

The flanking low-pressure areas will be cloudy and wet with potential extreme precipitation events depending on the location of the "Amtospheric Rivers". One of my early COMET Modules, "Satellite Feature Identification: Atmospheric Rivers" might be of interest. 

A warmer atmosphere can also hold more moisture - about 7 percent more per 1°C of warming. An increase in atmospheric water vapour, which is also an important greenhouse gas (GHG), has already been witnessed with the observed global warming of 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial revolution temperature averages. 

The increasing heat and moisture in the Earth's environment fuel the more intense weather events that get locked up in these blocking patterns. Weather and climate are changing fast as a result of the ongoing combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities, such as the decimation of the planet's forests. The perceived sixth mass extinction is a direct consequence of human actions. 

The high-pressure portion of an Omega block tracked slowly over Singleton as I painted. With the abrupt change to summer, I could park my very wet panels on my field easel in front of the dormant wood stove. This also had the benefit that the feel of the brush strokes could be kept consistent from panel to panel as the work progressed. There were three masking tape bar codes on my easel above the painting, aligned in order from left to right. 

Two clean palettes still being used to keep my oils clean... #2945 on the easel while #2943 rests.

Singleton is under the golden star over eastern Ontario
in the accompanying graphic. 

Cold and wet weather would return to Singleton in time for the Victorian Day long weekend as the omega block re-established itself over North America. The accompanying weather map from mid-weekend clearly reveals the shape of the block. The details of the chart might be Greek to most, but the meteorology therein was my bread and butter for 35 plus years. 

Living under the preferred location of a cold low will be the best place to find yourself and nature with continued global warming. The hot and dry high is to be avoided. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels or go straight to the Collections. Here is the new Wet Paint 2024 Collection. 

Warmest regards and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick