Osprey sitting attentively in their wondrous nests … robins and cardinals intently looking and calling for mates … herons and egrets negotiating the edges of swollen ponds and rivers ...

The birds are back and provide endless variations of interpretation for many artists at Markings Gallery and an exciting focus for the month of May.

In the words of Abigail Robbins,  “Birds are amazing.  I watch them endlessly, their shapes, their flight patterns, their living habits.  Looking at birds with their gestures and body language, gives me infinite inspiration for sculptural forms.   I find the medium of papier mache versatile. I can shape and reshape until I am satisfied that the sculpture is close to the idea I have in my head.”  Abigal’s sculptures capture the essential elements in her birds; the owl, the crow, and the raptor. 

Wayne Robbins (no relation to Abigail) is well known for his wood carvings of the birds that inhabit Maine’s woods, fields and marine environment.  Working with a diverse variety of woods, such as linden, butternut, and walnut, Wayne carefully selects just the right piece to carve puffins, auks, terns, Screech Owls, sea ducks, and chickadees, to name just a few.  Some of his carvings are hand stained to enhance the colorings and markings of each species.  Many hours and thoughtful observation go into these sculptures.

Sue Stasiowski brings her unique artistry with needle felting to create marvelous interpretations of a wide range of birds.  A little oriole’s orange coloring has such depth because of the unique way Sue has for combining multiple colors of fiber. That orange is made of a masterful blend of yellows and several shades of orange.  The mixing on his wings is a painterly mix of black, white and wisps of orange.

Several other artists at Marking’s Gallery incorporate birds into their repertoire — Janice Wright with her fierce eyed herons on relief tiles and painted bowls, Kirsty Sandoy’s felted bird ornaments, Carolyn Judson’s expressive clay birds, Nan Kilbourn-Tara’s delightful small tile bird paintings.

Marking’s Gallery, 50 Front St., Bath, is open Thursday through Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wedensday. For more information, visit http://markingsgallery.com