The first time I saw a moorhen chick was in Leeds city centre. I was going to NHS-supplied CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) in a litte multi-use building near the Tetley. I think the therapy was going pretty well at that time – I don’t think I was in a bad state as I walked back towards town along the river Aire. Passing through some of the expensive living quarters in the area, you will come across a lovely chill little pond space. I was used to seeing moorhens in this spot – they’re a very lovely round and small water bird, I was already a fan. But when I saw their impossibly fluffy little babies with their monstrously large and scaly legs, I fell truly in love.
Here is an attempt at a loving portrait of one of these real life soot sprites
I was trying to draw inspiration from the oil paintings of Donya at Wyrd Gallery. I’ve got two on my wall, a F R O G and and frog in honey. She paints really gorgeous pond / swampy kind of scenes, which are quite dark in the background, but lots of really gorgeous bright colours, details and textures going on everywhere. I think I am a bit too uptight. I tried to introduce a bit of pink there in my oil pastel drawing, but my brain wouldn’t cope. It feels frustrating to feel so literal in my brain, and yet not have the patience to actually try to copy scenery, like plants / how the water might reflect off a lily pad – not courageous enough to attempt a dappled light effect either.
Still, it is always good for me to try. And I don’t think this is a bad drawing either.
I’m sure I’d like a tattoo of one one day. I’m compiling a mental list of all the animals / ghouls / charms I’d like on my body, and feeling out the places they might go.
