Friday, March 14, 2014

Peacock Feather

When I was five, my mother set up peacock feathers in a clay jar, and because I thought they were so beautiful, she encouraged me to sit at the table and draw one. I remember her telling me to look at it closely.

I found it among her things after she died––one of the few pieces of childhood art she'd saved.

10 comments:

Marz said...

You might've drawn that yesterday. "She has grown up into the same thing again!"

The Crow said...

Oooh! ZING! Sharp arrow from one so young, Marz. (But funny!)

I've always loved the iridescence of the feathers, especially the eye, Fresca. I think it is one of the things that draws me to crows and ravens - all birds that shimmer and color-shift.

Bookworm said...

This is beautiful. I'd be super proud if I'd drawn it yesterday! You can tell that you were looking closely.

The Crow said...

Returned to look at your drawing again and am amazed at the draftsmanship and attention to detail that 5-year-old you put into it. I can see why your mother saved it.

Marz said...

My biblical upbringing taught me that mocking your elders is just inviting a bear attack, so for my own protection I'd like to clarify:

You might've drawn it yesterday because it is so great, and is full of your character, then and now. To me, it looks like a self-portrait.

Oh, and "You have grown up into the same thing again!" is from _The Bee-Man of Orn_, wherein a man sets out to discover his former identity, and discovers he used to be...himself!

Marz said...

[The bear lurking on the edge of the treeline slips away]

Zhoen said...

Exit, pursued by bear.

Well observed.

The Crow said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
poodletail said...

I love best how your 5-year-old eyes noticed the many colors within and on top of other colors, and the tiny ring that connects the frondy bits (barbs) to the rachis. (I had to look that up.)

Fresca said...

Yes, I would be pleased to draw this today, and I do like the reminder that I grew up to be the same person I was at five.

POODLE: Thanks for looking up the names of feather parts--I had no idea. Cool!