25 November 07
Peregrine Falcon
There had been a report of a female peregrine falcon sitting on one of the UC Davis water towers over the past couple of days. I headed over there on my bike on the way home from lunch today. Sure enough, there she was, preening.
I pedalled home to get my new scope and spent close to an hour, doing about 20 sketches. Most of them are miserable: I feel as far away as ever from mastering raptor bills, though I’m determined to keep practicing — but I’m posting quite a few to give a sense of how the bird moved “in place” — preening, looking, keeping an eye out for prey and anything else.
I’m also becoming less worried about how bad the drawings are and more able to be grateful just sitting in the presence of something so awesome. It’s sometimes easy to forget that peregrines were almost wiped out by pesticides thirty years ago. We saw one yesterday in Inverness on Point Reyes. Seeing one again today seems unbelievable. Seeing one for close to an hour so that I could draw it? Fantastic.
Previous: A Walk Into Town Next: White Pelicans
I’m so inspired to draw more after seeing your post on the Peregrine Falcon. I feel the freedom you are entering, not worrying so much about perfection and just soaking up the experience. Each day gets easier in art. I like the idea of sketching one bird a day! Maybe I’ll start too! I love watching birds, and have painted a couple in my life… (so many more to experience!) My son is looking for Peregrine Falcon inspiration. His 5th grade teacher is a wonderful wise lady. I think she is instilling confidence and encouragement in my 10 year old son to pursue his art more. It amazed me when she offered him $25 for a little drawing he did of a falcon, but then our dog rather ruined it, wrinkling it up, when he laid on it. He’s since then not been able to draw a new one to his liking, and ironing it didn’t do too well on the typing paper he had used. He doesn’t want to sell her a wrinkled up one…. so we are just sitting here, surfing the net and looking for inspiration. I’m thinking now, after reading your post, to take him to a bird sanctuary to view a peregrine in person. We have one close by. Well, thank you for posting. We absoulutely loved looking at your drawings. Have a blessed day!