The Merganser

Hooded Merganser (male)
Lophodytes cucullatus
crayon, tusche
12-17-2014
about

These shy but active ducks stay near the dam in the winter. There's currently a group of two males and one female. As soon as I approach, they swim to the other side of the pool above the dam. They are often busy, diving below the surface hunting for small fish or crustaceans to eat. I like the idea that an animal can be described as "busy". This somehow cheers me up. What animal cheers you up?

Bonne journée!

Wires

"Wires"
charcoal
12/16/2014

Our glittering and magical "devices" (a catch-all term for tablets, computers and smartphones) fail to acknowledge the airborne and underground wires and cables that are the bones of the Information Superhighway. So here, la voilà, is said Superhighway. It's lovely in a way.

And then there are the electrical power plants digesting and burning coal, the sun, even atoms to power these hand-held delights. Top this with the holes in the earth where the precious and rare metals came from. One device is the tip of a spear of environmental and economic interdependence. It's sobering, having the entire world at your doorstep: the great unwashed who toil and soil themselves for our pleasure, the Kardashians and lolcats too. 

Coots & Cows

Big rains have filled up the river. It thunders over the dam.
charcoal
12-11-14

One day later: river is till rising. The island is inundated
colored pencil
12-12-14

from a Saturday morning walk around Lake Waban in Wellesley
ink, charcoal
12-13-14

Today at Lake Waban: Coots, I love coots!
ink
12-13-14

Cows, I can't draw cows!
ink, charcoal
12-13-14

Early December sketches

The park, the bridge, the river, the island, reflections
charcoal, ink
11-30-14

The forest near my house and snow
ink
11-30-14

Two Blue Ducks
crayon
12-1-14

The View Across the River
colored pencil
12-1-14

The Pleasant Street Bridge
ink, crayon
12-4-14

The view upriver, pine tree
ink, charcoal
12-4-14

The Bridge
ink, charcoal
12-5-14

 A Swan
colored pencil, ink
12-5-14

The Island
charcoal, ink
12-7-14

Pleasant Street
lithographic tusche, ink
12-7-14

Not a Creature Was Stirring…

Poor mouse!

The Sparrow

Sparrow
ink, crayon
11-30-14

Patience is a gloveless drawing of complicated tangled branches in the cold sunlight until a sparrow alights and sings a fragment of its song and then flies away.

Below are a few more drawings of small birds.

Yellow Warbler

herons and a dead finch

a baby wren

Robin on its nest