Essential toiletries – Birdy has a bath after a good feed

BIRDIE HAS A BATH – Work and pleasure– Seagull Flight oil painting

Ask at this link for the framed original or number 1 of 25 limited edition acrylic enhanced reproductions.

THE ALLEGORY

Maintenance is born
After a good feed
Maintain it in the vessel
Wisdom
Or become a premature victim
Floundering in the sky
Lack of maintenance
Speeds decay in the breed

Decay destroys
What was made good
Coded with a use-by date
Maintain
Or premature death
Enjoy the birdy bath
A pleasant feed
Before you’re out of breath

THE STORY

Essential Toiletries was inspired by watching seagulls bathing in fresh water along the Mahurangi River in Warkworth.

Nature is full of quiet inspiration, and everything we see carries a story if we pause long enough to notice it.

From my studio window, I often watch the river swell beneath the bridge as the tide rolls in. Meanwhile, seagulls gather in the small waterfall pools, filling the air with squawks, beating wings, and playful splashes.

As I observe them, I often find myself asking God, “Why?” After all, it seems natural to ask the Creator about His creation, because nothing exists without purpose.

In particular, those seagulls bathing so deliberately in fresh water beside the salt tide stirred that question deeply within me.

From that moment of curiosity, the story behind Essential Toiletries was born.

Functionality

A bird’s feathers exist for a purpose. However, when they are not washed, their function gradually weakens, efficiency is lost, and problems begin to appear. This cycle of dirt, disease, decay, and disorder can be seen throughout creation. Therefore, for anything to function well, it requires regular care and maintenance. Neglect always carries a cost. Birdie has a story to tell.

Seagulls are among the most common seabirds on earth. Whether in New York City, Sydney, Auckland, Paris, London, or Odesa, their story remains much the same wherever there is water and food.

What I call the Essential Toiletries Principle applies to all of life. For example, we see it in orchards, engines, ball bearings, our diets, livestock, and even in the way we think. Over time, unwanted passengers accumulate — things that steal purpose, hinder movement, and weaken what is good. As a result, when gulls become weighed down, they lose their ability to fly freely. In many ways, they reflect us.

Because of this, I long for the imperfect to be made perfect — a world without decay or disease, where nothing needs cleansing from opposition against its purpose. Instead, there would only be unhindered function and peace.

An observation

Essential Toiletries reveals a gull that is aware of discomfort. Dust and nits in feathers signal that care is needed. Instinctively, it knows that washing restores function.

In many ways, the same principle applies throughout life. A dirty body, a troubled conscience, a broken bone, disease, or faulty machinery all point to the same truth: everything longs for care, maintenance, and healing. Deep within creation is an innate desire to return to purpose and fulfil destiny.

Therefore, the gull cleans itself so it can fly freely once again, moving toward its next meal with ease and pleasure — unburdened, fully functional, and unhindered.

Some would call this heaven on earth.

Faith exercised from hunger

What is true washes away the darkness in a soul.

This observation shows that all creation has a deep longing for peace. In other words, everything desires freedom from conflict and war, rest from hard work, relief from disease and pests, and answers to the struggles that take away our freedom.

As a result, creation itself is waiting for the revealing of God’s sons. We can all sense that something in humanity is deeply broken, and therefore, we also feel a strong hunger for peace and rest.

Jesus expressed this hope in the words: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

These words have stirred in me a desire to understand more deeply. In fact, they were Jesus’ response to a question from His disciples.

The phrase “on earth as it is in heaven” invites us to imagine a world that has been restored. As the disciples watched Jesus, their curiosity grew. They saw Him bring healing, authority, and freedom. For example, He “washed” people from sickness and brokenness so they could live with renewed purpose. Because of this, the idea of washing became a powerful image for them.

So I find myself asking: why don’t we see more of this today, when He promised this wisdom?

Why is Jesus in the metaphor?

Jesus — fully human and fully divine — lived in constant relationship with an unseen kingdom. This kingdom was a reality greater than the disease and suffering we experience on earth.

Because of this, He spoke and interacted with the spiritual world as naturally as He did with the physical world. He acted on what He saw and heard, and as a result, He brought healing, restoration, and freedom.

In the same way, He showed others how to recognise and engage with this unseen realm. We call this prayer. Even more importantly, this connection has always been available to us.

However, many people dismiss what they cannot see. As a result, they doubt its reality and replace it with their own human ideas and philosophies.

Deep down, we still sense that something is wrong. Yet often, we try to fix it in the wrong way — like using the wrong method to wash something that needs to be made clean.

One last thought

Finally, here is one last thought: there is really no reason for boredom. This is because all of life everywhere needs care and maintenance — whether in Italy, America, New Zealand, Russia, or Syria. In other words, the need is the same across the whole world.

Because of this, the first step may be humility. That means setting aside political, religious, and philosophical pride, and instead seeking reconciliation with our Maker. As a result, we begin to recognise that humanity shares a common ignorance — a God-shaped emptiness that only the Creator’s wisdom can truly fill.

In addition, Scripture speaks of a new heaven and a new earth. In that promised world, there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.

Therefore, everything will be restored. In that place, Birdie will no longer need a bath. Instead, he will simply swim and fly freely, exactly as his heart desires.

STATUS and MATERIALS

ORIGINAL FOR SALE  *  
Artist oils on stretched, gesso-primed linen archival canvas mounted proudly on Aluminium Sign ply. Gloss dammar varnish protection.
* Original and Limited Edition reproductions are supplied with Provenance, coded Authentication of Sale Certificate, and maintenance/care information.

25 LIMITED EDITION “ACRYLIC ENHANCED” CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS
Please ask about the price and sizes.

75 LIMITED EDITION CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS * 
Unframed sizes | 960 x short side – $960  |  650 x short side – $650
Printed on long-life archival canvas and protected with two coats of UV archival spray.
* Stretch-mounted reproductions will incur added charges for mounting and freight.

OPEN EDITION POSTER ART PRINTS * 
Unframed sizes | 594 x short side – $120
* Posters printed on fine art papers and treated with two coats of UV archival protection spray.

FASHION

An image from “Birdie Has a Bath” will be exhibited on multiple product lines at Fine Art America

SHIPPING

• Includes insurance and package/handling fees.
• The Original and Limited Edition reproductions ship with the Provenance-coded Authentication of Sale Certificate and maintenance information.
• Poster art prints ship in insured tubes.

AWARDS