One morning I was rushing to an important meeting, I found myself sprinting through a car park. My focus was solely on the ticking clock, not the world around me. That’s when it happened. I attempted to jump a low chain fence, something I’d done countless times before. But this time, my foot caught the chain, and I was launched forward, face-planting into the hard bitumen. The searing pain in my chest told me I’d broken my ribs. There I was, lying face down, gasping for air, the meeting completely forgotten.
It’s ironic how something so familiar, so visible, can become unseen when we lose focus. It reminds me of my latest wallpaper art featuring the Pyrenean ibex. This majestic creature, once native to the Pyrenees, now exists only in memory and art. Much like my unseen fence, the Pyrenean ibex was a part of the landscape until it wasn’t.
Have you ever broken a bone?
The Pyrenean ibex, also known as the bucardo, was a subspecies of the Spanish ibex. It was adapted to the rugged mountain terrain of the Pyrenees, agile and sure-footed. Despite their hardiness, the ibex faced numerous threats from humans and predators. Their numbers dwindled throughout the 19th and 20th centuries due to hunting and habitat loss. By the year 2000, the Pyrenean ibex was declared extinct when the last known individual was found dead in northern Spain.
Interestingly, scientists attempted to resurrect the Pyrenean ibex through cloning in 2003. They managed to create a clone, but it died shortly after birth due to lung defects. This brief resurrection highlights our often-late recognition of value—both in nature and in our personal lives.
As I lay in that car park, all thoughts of my meeting dissipated. The broken ribs were a painful reminder that if only I’d paid more attention, I wouldn’t be in this predicament. The ibex and the unseen fence teach us a valuable lesson: awareness of our surroundings and the broader picture is crucial. Whether in nature or in our daily lives, we need to be present and attentive.
In the art world, this translates to more than just observing nature—it’s about zooming out and seeing the bigger picture. Artists, like all creators, need to balance their creative vision with the reality of their environment. Financial stability and opportunity are as important as artistic integrity. The extinction of opportunities often happens unnoticed when we’re too focused on the immediate and the familiar.
As I nurse my injuries, I’m reminded to look beyond the obvious. To thrive creatively and financially, we must be honest with ourselves and observe the world truthfully. Opportunities should be nurtured, not left to fade away unnoticed, just like the Pyrenean ibex.
Kids Book Illustrator Andy C Marshall 