Paper print (Matte finish - Signed): 8.5" X 11" - $30.00
Paper print (Matte finish - Signed): 11W" x 11.75H" - $49.00
The ORIGINAL: Pencil illustration on paper. Image size: 12" x 12.75" Frame size: 18" x 19.5"
- $950.00
Dr. Fallowfield, Therapist and nest builder
Dr. Fallowfield was an eagle of great learning and a scholar of some renown.
Unfortunately, for many who knew him, he was also considered quite a strange bird. His philosophy was one of building character through strict abandonment of almost every personal luxury and embracing the 'hunter/gather' lifestyle of his forefathers.
He lived alone atop a sizeable four-story house on a steep hill in Spokane, Washington. When I say 'atop' I really do mean 'atop'. You see, Dr. Fallowfield constructed a large nest gathered together from local tree branches. He built the nest on top of his home. Sitting perched, he could then survey the surrounding area. This, in his mind, connected him to his glorious eagle ancestors.
The local townsfolk often speculated whether the Doctor was a danger to all or just a harmless eccentric. However, as is always the case when a predator bird appears, many of the other birds, rabbits, and mice who lived in Spokane began to leave immediately.
However, over time, they ignored him for the most part—until one particularly stormy October night in 1897.
Mr. Whisperly, a bright, young country mouse, was returning home after visiting his sister across the town. Because it was such a somber night, he decided to cut across a moonlit field. Hurrying and scurrying, he almost arrived at the other end when an oversized silhouette shadowed the incandescent moon above. He looked up, gasped, almost dropped his warm huckleberry pie gifted by his sister, and ran as fast as possible. "My goodness," he exclaimed to himself. "my goodness," he said again, to the benefit of no ears other than his own little furry ones.
As he raced along, he noticed his feet running in the air as though riding an invisible bicycle. The ground was leaving him, or he was leaving the ground. Feeling the steely grip of Dr. Fallowfields talons around his waist, he shouted again: "My goodness, please help me, someone."
Mr. Whisperly was whisked through the cold night and unceremoniously deposited into a strange bed of twigs and branches. He saw the ominous shape of Dr. Fallowfield looming above him, his bright eyes cutting through the night like two bright lanterns. He breathed heavily, and steam rose from his beak, huffing as if he were an oncoming steam locomotive about to plow through poor Mr. Whisperly.
"Dr. Fallowfield, is that you?" he said in a tiny, trembling voice. There was no reply, only the heavy steam and the glowing eyes. "Dr. Fallowfield....it's me. Mr. Whisperly. I live across the river."
The silhouette slowed its breathing and shuffled sideways from one taloned foot to the other. "Mr. Whisperly?" it slowly exhaled.
"Yes. You know me."
"You have a sister who lives across the field, don't you?" he said as if waking from some strange and tragic dream. "Oh dear....what....what have I been up to?"
"It's alright, Doctor Fallowfield. Everything is fine now. Would you mind stepping off my belly, please?"
He looked down at the small frame of Mr. Whisperly, pinned beneath his massive talons. "Oh my...oh my word."
He stepped carefully off the very winded mouse, beak to collar, gently picked him out of the nest, and deposited him onto the roof of his home.
"I'm so very sorry, Mr. Whisperly. I think I've been working a little too hard lately. Please forgive me."
He immediately began to dismantle his grotesque nest. His heart became full again with the simple joy of having a companion to talk to. And in the glow of an almost full moon, two shadows, one large and one small, shared the still quite warm huckleberry pie, chatted and worked together throughout the night until every branch and twig was removed.
Some digital prints may have a slight enhancement from the original illustration, to increase tone and color balance.
Watermark will not be printed on image
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All reproduction prints are scanned and printed using gallery standard, professional equipment and materials. Ensuring the highest quality.
Illustrated in the style of a vintage Edwardian or Victorian photograph. This image is part of my 'Anicurio' collection. Each original illustration is carefully hand drawn in pencil. Once finished, I often hand age and treat them with various dye methods, to resemble an old dusty antique photograph. I want this series to suggest something that was rediscovered by you. An inherited artifact from a mysterious benefactor? Or perhaps revealed in a long abandoned attic, lying at the bottom of a chest. Buried beneath old dusty clothes and fading hand written notes.