224. Close Encounters of the Waterfowl Kind

duck things and human things.

Dear reader,

A seasonal pond is like a highway motel for migratory birds. You can see them crowding around the reception area. You can watch them bathe in the morning. You can hear them at dawn, flying low over apartment buildings, calling out to their brethren, flapping great wings as they head back after a night of heavy partying. I do not know the times for check-in or check-out, because information like that is not shared with humans. There is only one piece of information for human voyeurs. On a sign in front of the pond it reads - “Do not feed the birds” - because they are very particular about their diets.

In today’s post, some sneaky encounters with ducks here at the western edge of the world.

The SneakyArt Post is a publication of secretly drawn art of the world. Every week, I share the latest drawings from my sketchbooks, and the best ideas from my journey as an artist and writer.

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🎙️ I spoke with Rebecca and Natalie on the Reframeables Podcast about switching from a career in engineering to art and writing, and how this new life required me to reframe previous concepts of productivity.

🦆 A Pond

Millions of ducks fly down the Pacific Flyway every autumn season, from the northern tip of Alaska to the west coast of Mexico. Every spring, millions fly back up. On this incredible journey of thousands of miles, some of them stop by the duck pond in Queen Elizabeth Park just outside my home. Some of them pooped on the path I walked down yesterday. Some of them woke me up yesterday morning with their calls. Some of them flew by the window as I burped Rohan on the rocking chair. I am privileged to be witness to these few moments out of their remarkable lives, and for my life to intersect with a tiny part of their journeys. Lucky me.

Learn more about the four migration flyways of North America and what we can do to conserve and sustain our shared ecology.

Morning routines.

The duck pond in Queen Elizabeth Park is a man-made pond that dries out over summer. But it is situated such that, when the rains come, the rainwater flows downhill and fills it back up. The rainy season intersects with the end of summer and hangs over our lives until late spring. During this time, while there are no neon signs, this motel is open for business.

In the morning hours, you can see the ducks dip their beaks in the water, somersault to wash their entire bodies, and skid across its surface to make a scene and startle other birds. When the sun comes out, they perch on the rocks and sit back on orange feet with eyes shut.

Morning ablutions.

While you cannot feed the ducks, voyeurism is considered socially acceptable.

Little children are pushed on strollers by gleeful parents or escorted by babysitters fresh out of fresh ideas. The occasional lifestyle vlogger records deep thoughts while panning across the green grass, the shivering branches of trees, and the dark water reflecting blue sky and white clouds.

(Rohan did not look out of the stroller when we took him the first time. He does not yet know what a duck is, or what a pond is. He does not know things yet.)

The self as parent at the duck pond.

Ducks react with nonchalance to frequent invasions of privacy.

Dear reader, do you know of the migratory species that visit your part of the world? Share their story in the comments!

👋🏼 Hello, new readers

I have spent the last few weeks with our tiny human - feeding, cleaning, soothing, burping, cajoling, begging, massaging, bathing, changing diapers, changing diapers, changing diapers, changing diapers. I don’t know if you know but parenthood is not easy. If there is a parent in your life, especially a young parent, be kind to them. They are not fully present in their world. They are going through many things all at once.

It takes a lot to get to a peaceful moment like this.

If you signed up recently for this newsletter and were wondering why you haven’t heard from me at all, the reason is little Rohan. If you have been a reader for a while but still did not know, maybe you missed the announcement post where I asked you to grant my parental leave. Thank you to all the generous readers who bought me coffee for the sleepless nights!

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🗓️ In Case You Missed It…

🏥 I was drawing throughout our stay at the hospital.

💭 Watching Rohan sleep and occasionally break into a smile, I wondered about the stuff of his dreams.

🌙 Unable to sleep out of fear that he would suddenly stop breathing, I even tried drawing in the darkness.

🍼 At 4 weeks, Rohan’s cries began to amuse rather than terrify us. How else do you react to a 3 kg bundle of joy sending 4 grown adults racing around the house for ways to pacify him?

✍🏼 I am drawing Rohan every day now, and these sketches are helping me put out of my comfort zone with colours.

🌱 Last week, we took Rohan out on a sunny day to touch grass for the first time.

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Morning feed after a restful night.

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🙏 I want to thank you

There are times when it is impossible to draw our tiny human. Such as at 5 am after a full feed as he groans and grunts before sinking back into sleep in my arms and I rock him on the rocking chair that soothes me as much as him. He has burped, and cleared his throat a few times, and wears a satisfied smile and beatific expression. But I cannot show you this moment because I could not have moved then. It was our private moment to share, together in the pre-dawn stillness of the world.

But I am glad to take my chances during the day, to record these moments that will soon escape our sleep-addled memories, that will be compressed, sanitized, and forgotten when we begin to pay off the sleep debt of these early weeks.

Paying attention to Rohan this way is my great joy as a new parent. Paying attention to Rohan is my biggest curiosity right now as an artist. These identities of my self are supported by you, dear reader. You make it possible.

If I had to pander to publications as many illustrators do, I could not do this. If I had to seek gallery representation as traditional artists must, I would have to play by the rules of their game. If I had to seek out brand deals like other social media influencers with my kind of reach, I would only see him through the camera lens of my phone.

Technology and connectedness were supposed to free us from our chains. But the world is only becoming harder for those trying to be independent.

In an increasingly difficult world, in a depressing media landscape, you allow me to tune out the noise and follow my own compass. That is what I am doing this year, as a parent and an artist. That is what I hope to do for the rest of my life. You will make it possible.

These are the big plans:

🚼 I am watching Rohan navigate his world (and sharing his adventures with you)

✍🏼 I am writing my first book with a publisher (and sharing the behind-the-scenes journey with SneakyArt Insiders)

🖥️ I am conducting more workshops virtually and in-person (and giving away free seats to Insiders)

📬 I am leaving art in public places for strangers to find (and sending drawings to readers all over the world)

🌎 I am exploring my world as a sneaky artist (and sharing it with you every week)

If you are here as a reader, I am grateful. In these distracted times, it is my privilege to have a share of your time and attention every week.

If you support my work as an Insider, you have given me the mandate to pursue my curiosity. I am in your debt. I like to think that we are traveling together on a long journey, occupying different spaces inside the same world. Every Sunday, I share my view with you, and you share yours. Together we see more, learn more, and become more than just one.

Thank you.