Atop His Ivory Tower ~ Portrait of a Brown Pelican!
The dictionary’s definition of “ivory tower” is the following: “A place or attitude of retreat, especially preoccupation with lofty, remote, or intellectual considerations rather than practical everyday life”. Wikipedia defines it as the following: “…a metaphorical place-or an atmosphere-where people are happily cut off from the rest of the world in favor of their own pursuits, usually mental and esoteric ones.”
Pelicans are communal in nature. They nest in colonies and tend to be mostly non-migratory. They will fly in long linear and sometimes V formation. They tend to feed together and rest together. In other words, they like to spend a lot of time together. They are gregarious birds!
Occasionally, though, they need their me time. They may fly off by themselves to dive for fish, or to chase a fishing boat. I often see solitary pelicans resting on pilings.
In my painting entitled Atop His Ivory Tower, a Brown Pelican is depicted alone, atop the rigging of one of Shem Creek’s few remaining shrimp boats. He is happily “cut off” from the rest of the world, pursuing some me time. His time of reflection is interrupted by an onlooker, and his concentration is broken. He was previously preoccupied with preening, and deep thoughts about who this year’s mate will be for breeding season!
Atop His Ivory Tower by William R. Beebe, 48 x 36, Oil on canvas, $11,500.
Brown Pelicans are monogamous within a breeding season. So each year the pressure is on to attract a new mate. His rufous colored neck indicates that he is in breeding plumage. There is a lot of competition each year since colonies are fairly sizable.
Atop His Ivory Tower by William R. Beebe, head detail
The old, rusty shrimp boat’s rigging is the perfect getaway for a respite. His large webbed feet fold over the ivory painted crossbar, giving him a stable platform to relax for awhile. He’s been there before. In fact, it is one of his favorite places to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the many feeding frenzies down in the water below.
Atop His Ivory Tower by William R. Beebe, rigging detail
The rusty chain and worn rope direct you downward to the world below. The industrial features of the rigging symbolize the close relationship pelicans have with shrimpers. They both covet each daily catch and even though it’s sometimes a love/hate relationship, they spend every day together in the same pursuit.
Atop His Ivory Tower by William R. Beebe, rigging detail
I love Brown Pelicans and I love boats, so I find the combination irresistible. I get a kick out of seeing them perched on top of shrimp boats.
Pelicans have so much character in their weathered faces. They also have a variety of feather combinations (depending on the time of year and their age) that I find interesting. Mix in their funny and sometimes awfully serious poses and that’s why they are one of my favorite birds to paint.
The shrimp boats’ pulleys, chains and ropes are always weathered and worn, and they call out to the maritime artist in me and inspire me to paint them as well.
Atop His Ivory Tower is a large painting, 48”x 36”. By going big it allowed me to place the pelican in the upper half of the painting and still be sizable. It also allowed the pulleys and chain to become a significant part of the painting.
The background was painted with a palette knife to create texture. Much of the rigging was also painted with a palette knife, and some features of the pelican.
I hope you like this painting as much as I enjoyed painting it. Thank you, as always, for reading my journal and for your interest in my art. Please check back soon to see what’s next on my easel!
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion….”
What’s next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe