A Bobcat

This wonderful creature is alive and well, and is one of two bobcats living in Cat Canyon at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson.  An artist friend and I spent a day wandering out there a few months ago, sketching and taking photos for finishing up our work back in our studios.

Bobcat. Copyright 2012: M.E. Quinn

I've entered him in the Tucson Pastel Society's winter show at Murphey Gallery in St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave. in Tucson.  The Society is also exhibiting member's works in a concurrent Holiday Charity Show in the same gallery, to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.  All art in both shows was submitted by members of the Tucson Pastel Society, and I got a sneak peek of a lot of the work when I dropped off mine -- and let me tell you, there is some mighty fine work on display and for sale in both shows.

The Opening Artists Reception is Sunday, Dec. 16th from 12:30 to 3 p.m. -- so stop by if you can and view the art and say "Hi!"  Both exhibits will run through January 10, 2013.

I think bobcats are intriguing, the way they can sit motionless for hours, watching something.  My dog, Jake, encountered a bobcat once -- we lived on 10 acres next to the  Tanque Verde wash and the land harbored an ancient path, a wild animal corridor.  We had everything that inhabits the Sonoran Desert strolling by our front door on any given day!  One morning, Jake spotted a bobcat in the tall grass about 30 feet from the house and he silently loped out to meet the cat.  The bobcat stopped in his tracks and turned his head to gaze over his shoulder at the big black Labrador.  Jake stopped about five feet from that cat and stood perfectly still, their eyes locked in some kind of silent understanding.  They must have stared at each other that way for a good two minutes -- while back at the house, all us humans were holding our collected breath!  Then the bobcat turned away, showing his short stubby tail to Jake's nose, and continued walking through the grass toward the dry wash.  Jake turned around and came back to the house, his tail wagging.  I don't know know what the bobcat told him, but it must have been important.

Poodle. 

Copyright 2012

: M.E. Quinn

I also have a Sassy White Poodle portrait in the show, and a rendering of a Vermillion Flycatcher.  All three works were done in pastels, one of my favorite mediums.

~MQ