Tuesday, April 29, 2014

COMMON KESTREL


This drawing done on watercolor paper was from a bird held captive briefly before being released back into the wild. It proved a perfect subject as it sat calmly while I drew and painted nearby. These chance encounters are important to the artist especially as birds seldom keep still for long. Much can be learnt by careful study and observation and I am pleased that I had the opportunity with this bird. Size is about 20" x 13".

3 comments:

john said...

Years ago I rehabilitated orphaned and injured birds for the AZ Dept. of Game & Fish. I had a female kestrel that became so tame she would spend much of the day sitting on my shoulder.
Although I got many good photos of her, I never even thought to sketch her or any of the other birds that came into my hands. Opportunity missed, the story of my life.

Jeremy Pearse said...

John, I never knew you were a rehabilitator! The few birds that I nursed back to health and released back into the wild was an amazing experience, and is a feeling one never forgets so I can guess how rewarding that job can be. And I know just what you mean about missed opportunities! There have been so many times in the past that I wished that I had spent more time and energy drawing and painting. I suppose all one can do is to make sure that it never happens again in the future.

John Holmes said...

I agree with both of you about missed opportunities, mine are mainly photographic.
A view or a building, just a memory when I got round to going back.