A fawn lying low to avoid a predator. I added to the original pen and ink. Mary thought it was lacking. Is it an improvement?
The Fawn as I originally drew it in a vignette.
The pen and ink was based off of another fawn picture I took. I love when they are just a couple of days old and they’ll lay down and be still.
The woods are silent, but for the sound of falling rain. The log trucks are parked. Winter operations cease when the woods are wet. It all comes to a halt to avoid making a mess of the ground or getting mud in the creeks. The loggers are either in the shop or at home. After four years of drought, it’s good to be rained out.
A lot of deer come down to the foothills to winter. I saw this big black tail buck on the way home last week. He wasn’t far from the house. The rut is going on right now and hunting season has been over for awhile, so the deer are unconcerned with people. It’s a great time to shoot them with the camera.
Loading poles and lumber at the mill yard. Another peek at “TIMBER!” The ink is done on this page, and it just needs a bit of watercolor.
California Valley Quail on sentry duty. Pen and Ink.
It’s tough being a prey item. California valley quail deal with this fact of life by having a sentry to watch over the covey. He’s not much for defending the covey, but will sound a pretty good alarm.
The mill pond, also known as the otter pond, is visited by various birds all year long. This was a snapshot of the visitors one day in November.
My very good friends Jan and Chris requested otters for this weeks Wild Wednesday. So that’s what they get, otters! Plus as a bonus, Golden Retrievers, since they have a pack of goldens of their own.
Preliminary sketch of Timber cover art in pencil.
Mary and I are collaborating on a new forestry picture book. We are deeply into the thick of the process. Our original forestry book, Forests, Trees and Wood, came out in 1993. It’s now out of print and this new book will take it’s place, (Red Tail Publishing 2016).
I’ve seen some strange things in the woods. Not long ago it was the Pink Panther up a pine tree. Before that it was Jellystone park, home of Yogi Bear. Now it’s Sponge Bob! I can’t for the life of me, figure out how anyone thought SpongeBob SquarePants was a good idea for a cartoon character. I also can’t figure out how they were right! That’s why I’m just a dirt forester.
SpongeBob says, “say hello to my little friend!”
What’s next, Bullwinkle, Foghorn Leghorn or Barney the Purple Dinosaur? Lord, I hope it’s not Barney. Oh no, now that song is playing in my head!
Bliss, “That looks evil!”
Tasha, “I’ll get the big one. You get the little one!”
I had to visit one of our loggers the other day. My route took me through the little hamlet of French Gulch. It was settled during the Gold Rush, but you rarely see any rush around this sleepy little town these days.
We also enjoyed some rain. They say El Nino is coming and we’re hoping so.
THE FORESTER ARTIST 