Kristen Setala

Grouse, in Graphite (2021)

Graphite on Paper

In 2021 I spent a week at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory, at the narrow tip of the Sibley Peninsula. Every day was spent the same way; walking up and down the trails to the mist nets and traps, standing on the platform to count migrants stopping over or passing through, and enjoying quiet evenings in the quaint cabin. We passed the evenings by playing cards, bathing in the sauna (only once a week, to save wood), owl banding when the conditions were right, and for me, sketching.

This grouse came to be in one quick sketching session, and became one of my favourite graphite drawings to date. From afar they may seem to be a drab brown bird, but once you look at the details of their patterns they are really quite impressive.