This week I chose the Graceful Prinia, a small warbler found in Africa and Asia. I picked a neutral coloured bird as I wanted to try out ink again, but found it to be a bit more challenging than I remember. I did a large piece of a bat a few years ago with ink but I may have used different brushes for that one. I did a lot of exploration with ink and brush with younger children a few months ago and it is so messy but worth it. The different brush techniques and characters they come up with are fantastic and it leads to some interesting problem solving given its permanence. One thing to note is cleaning the brushes has to be done thoroughly as the ink works its way into the bristle within the brush handle. Ink can be so dynamic and intense, which can lead to some confidently made art. You have to be able to roll with mistakes, as it is bound to happen in the form of a dip or smudge.
The Graceful Prinia lives in dense grassland and shrubbery, as it feeds on insects. They make beautifully woven nests that they can use long term due to having no need to migrate. They have a stable population, which is always a welcome fact. This card I am sending to my grandparents, as they often send me cards and my Grandma had surgery this past week. Both of them are very artistic people, and connecting to the gratitude portion of the wholehearted teacher session in 352, I would absolutely not be where I am without their encouragement in the arts and I am so thankful to have a family who supports what I am passionate about and did not think twice about wether art school was a smart choice or not. I think this week I’d like to continue working with ink, and it was also something brought up in my art instruction class – working with ink and unconventional tools for more exploration.
