9. Original Plein Air Drawing, "Plein Air, Common Grackle Studies, Flagstaff, 6-6:25pm, 5.16.24”, ink, 9 x 12”, 2024

Location: Flagstaff, AZ

Event: ArtX Flagstaff

I had to look up the name of the bird species I saw so actively pursuing insects and each other in the evenings on the prairie in Flagstaff. Grackles buzzed about each night with a sense of purpose, intelligence, and a logic that I felt I could just scratch the surface of by drawing them. They were definitely aware of my observation, observing me observing them. Their black coloring made for clearly identifiable silhouettes. Some drawings are the same bird moving through space and time, others are posing still for a moment. I love studying and drawing and painting animals from life, especially birds in flight.