Kestrel ~ "Shadows of the Sky" ~ Pastel Lovebirds The orange-red legs break through

The orange-red legs break through all that subtlety with a flash of pure color

I've always felt there's something ancient about pileated woodpeckers

Each brushstroke pays homage to the cheerful spirit of songbirds

the habit of following gardeners for upturned worms

filling your home with the joy of their rousing serenades amidst blooming landscapes

Kestrel ~ "Shadows of the Sky" ~ Pastel Lovebirds The orange-red legs break throughThis kestrel pastel painting captures North America's smallest falcon a bird no bigger than a robin that hunts with the ferocity of a hawk ten times its size. Kestrels hover in place against the wind, scanning the ground below with vision sharp enough to see a grasshopper from a hundred feet. They are proof that power has nothing to do with size. I worked in pastel for this piece, building the kestrel's russet back, slate blue wings, and boldly