The idea for 'When Mr Cardinal Shows Up Everything Else Fades to Gray' came to him in late spring, before the leaves and grasses came out. The world outside is kinda gray those days anyway, but especially so when the Cardinals are around.
Cardinals are his wife's favorite visitors, so on the occasion they stop by the bird feeders, it is kind of a big deal.
The painting is an abstract shape of a cardinal in bright reds. The rest of the painting has a wash of warm gray over the top, to increase the drama.