There are times I’d rather be a veterinarian sticking my hand up an exotic animal’s nether regions than being an artist, even if the worst thing I typically face during a day is getting ink on my fingertips. I could bemoan the endless deadlines and the occasional paper-cut, but, truth be told, everyone deals with those.
So, what vexes me so about being an artist? It’s the birds. No, not the feathered friends themselves, but the clueless fiends who, upon seeing the beret atop my head, immediately peg me an as artist, whereupon they inquire, almost by rote, if I ‘do birds,’ which, to my sensibilities is akin to asking a research geneticist if they do appendices.
Do I do birds?
Well, I’ve flipped a few birds in my time. I’ve also been known to feed the birds in the park. But no, I haven’t done a bird, though I have created some really neat bird characters, most of which are chickens. I like chickens. Chickens make me smile.
I usually don’t explain any of this to the eager inquirer. Anyone who asks if I do birds, bees or flowers for that matter would, more than likely, not appreciate my quirky characters, funky designs or wacky sense of humor. Thus, I tend to just smile and say ‘no, I haven’t done any birds lately, though I do have an extensive portfolio of sheep…’
- Tessla Queen - friend of birds everywhere and occasional lover of sheep.