Wild Wednesday … Don’t Even Breathe!

black bear,black tail deer, pen and ink, drawing, wildlife

Fawns are often killed by black bears in the Spring. Right after birth, fawns know instinctively to lay perfectly still. They have almost no scent. If the fawn doesn’t move a muscle and the bear is up wind it my not see the little deer.

I have you folks to thank, or blame for this pen and ink. It’s the third version of this fawn. You can see the two previous versions in the post Wild Wednesday Fawn Redo. First was a sweet vignette, which Mary told me was lacking. So I added more detail and asked if you all preferred the simple vignette of the more complete fawn. I received lots of great feedback and the majority liked the additional detail. If more detail is good then a lot more should be great. Truth is, I kept adding more and more because I had a vision. That’s when the bear came along to add some drama. The first rendition was lackluster. Now it tells a story, so thank you Mary and all you folks who commented before. Listening to a good critique only makes us better artist and writers. Even if I grumbled about it at first.

On a side note, if I’d known it was going to morph into this final drawing, the composition would have been different. However, I think it works okay. What do you think?

Wild Wednesday … Quail Sentry

quail, California Valley Quail, pen and ink, pen, ink, drawing, wildlife

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.

Wild Wednesday … California Valley Quail

California valley quail, California quail, valley quail, quail

California Valley Quail, Callipepla californica, in pen and ink. This is the male. The covey often has one bird acting as lookout. This one was standing on a stone fence.

Wild Wednesday … Wiley Coyote?

Wild as in wildlife. Naturally, the coyote comes after the roadrunner.

coyote, watercolor, watercolour, pen and ink, ink drawing, wildlife

Coyote in mixed media. Done with pen and ink, and watercolor.

I enjoy seeing wild coyotes and I see them often. As a dog lover, I’m sympathetic toward them. On the flip side I have no illusions about their predator nature and I keep an eye out for our pets and livestock.

Coyote

This coyote was just west of the house. She came cruising through and posed very politely.

Ranchers have to protect their livestock because it’s their livelihood. Coyotes have to hunt because it’s their livelihood. It’s a tough reality for coyotes and ranchers alike. All part of the harsh balance of nature.

Coyote.

It’s tough being a coyote.

Roadrunner, the Coyote’s After You!

watercolor, pen and ink, pen & ink, illustration, roadrunner, mixed media

Roadrunner in Watercolor and, pen and ink.

Here's my inspiration. I don't see them often, and what a treat to have a photogenic roadrunner!

Here’s my inspiration. I don’t see them often, and what a treat to have a photogenic roadrunner!