Preliminary sketches for sculpture

Sculpture often begins with drawings.  These quick, scratchy sketches help to clarify the pose, rythm and feel I would like in my sculpture.  Also, in looking closely at the bird, to draw it, I learn exactly how it is made up – how it holds its wings, how the feathers lie, what happens when it stretches its neck to give voice, the look in its eye – all these in some way I would like to capture in stone.  I look hard, I draw, I feel the bird, I am the bird, I sculpt, carve in a frenzy and summon all my bird self to invest the stone with essence of Red Kite.