A huge (for me) 30"x40" canvas in acrylics I did for my mom. Because she wanted a quail. And she consented to my somewhat colorful, abstract vision.
The Gambel's Quail could almost be Arizona's state bird. Which it is not (the Cactus Wren gets that honor). But they are everywhere. It's another one of those desert birds that are so common that 95% of the population here do not even take notice of them anymore, as the males dart out in front of our cars onto the road, then hurriedly usher their covey back to the safety of the sidewalk, their black hairpieces bobbing in indignation.
I wrote a poem about the Gambel's quail once upon a time. Something about how overdressed they are for a life of scratching about in the desert sand for food. But I can't for the life of me find that poem. Probably just as well! There is only so much of my creativity I should be shoving out into the world, after all.
