Birds are used as a means of exploring light, surface, and spatial tension within the picture plane. Working primarily in soft pastel, I combine linear drawing with broader tonal passages to build structure without fixing the subject too rigidly. The medium’s responsiveness supports both precision and revision, enabling repeated adjustment as the image develops. Colour choices are informed by direct observation and restrained palettes, avoiding decorative excess. By allowing traces of process to remain visible, the finished works reflect an analytical approach that values construction, observation, and the physical qualities of the medium.