Gold Medal - Art Classic 2007
"Contradiction I"
5" x 7" Pencil/Charcoal
Available

It was mid April in Ohio and an unexpected snow storm blew through. The lakes and rivers were covered with ice and snow and on the bank of this small lake I passed frequently stood this very discombobulated "ready for spring" Great Blue Heron. He was staring at the frozen water as if to say, "Now what do I do?" The site of this Heron, beautifully feathered in his elegant mating plumage, yet sitting on a snow covered bank was quite a contradiction indeed.
The drawing was done with pencil and charcoal on Bristol. The background was done with vine charcoal, then spritzed with water and blotted. Interesting effect what water does to charcoal.

I came upon this scene at the zoo in Jacksonville, Florida. The Woodstorks were standing in this river that I thought was covered with algae. At closer look I discovered there were zillions of teeny green leaves. The storks were almost posing, and the large primary wing feather on the bank was a perfect touch.

"Standing Tall"
5" X 7" Pastel
Available

Presenting the Ae'o which means "standing tall" in Hawaiian. They can stand up to 16" tall and are on the endangered species list due to habitat loss, and the introduction of predators to Hawaii. I don't think the smile left my face as I drew this beautiful bird.
 

"Daily Visitor"
5" X 7" Pastel
Available

"Acorn Woodpecker"
5" X 7" Pastel
Available

"First to Feed"
5" X 7" Pencil
Available


"Ready to Court"
5" x 7" Pastel
Available

"New Zealand Pelican"
5" x 7" Pastel
Available

Photo Reference
Courtesy
John Ursillo

"Curious"
5" x 7" Pastel
Available

I was sitting on the bank of a small river in Ohio - just enjoying the view and watching the birds. I was also tossing little pieces of a broken twig into the river. All of a sudden, out of the reeds, swims this very curious female wood duck. She stayed long enough to realize I wasn't tossing anything to eat, and for me to take a photo or two. So very pretty.

"Slim"
3" x 4" Pastel
Available

Slim is our pet scrub-jay (Ha!). Every morning he comes to the kitchen window looking for a peanut - and we happily give him one, or twenty. :-) If we don't he makes quite a fuss.
This is pastel pencils on black bristol.

"Surprised"
3" X 3" Pastel
Available

I think this little Titmouse was as surprised to see me as I was to see him. I've never seen one here (southern California) before and he was the only one among all the other birds at the feeder this morning. All fluffed up from the chilly morning air, with a look of total bewilderment. I'm not sure if it was the bird feeder that had him baffled......or the human.




"Harris Hawk"
5" x 7" Pastel
Available

5" x 7" Pastel
Available
2008 Gold Medal
SCAA Art Classic

Condor #6 is from the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in southern California. I did this portrait, and then one of the bird standing in a field. Trying to find out more information on the bird - #6 is the tag on the bird's wing which will be very visible in the next painting. Condors are critically endangered and all those in the wild were born, raised and then released from captivity.

Photo reference courtesy of Tom Clayton.



 

5" x 7" Pastel
Available
2008 Gold Medal
SCAA Art Classic

I recently learned that #6 was also known as AC2. Given that information I was able to do more research. I would like to comment here that the California Condor was the species that moved me to begin using my
art to educate the public about America's endangered species some 17 years ago. I have always felt this to be a magnificent bird - full of individual beauty and grace.
"June of 2005 condor AC-2 was released, one of the original wild males that had frequented the mountains behind Santa Barbara and the foothills on the edge of the San Joaquin Valley above Maricopa. The bird was released on June 22 at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, only 90’ from where he had been captured 19 years earlier in 1986 to become part of the captive breeding program. Within minutes of release this bird began making his way back to the mountains above Santa Barbara where he had roosted and produced young years before. Unfortunately this bird only survived 95 days in the wild, and was found dead on September 27 on Bitter Creek Refuge. The cause of death is still unknown. He was believed to be at least 35 years old."

The Life History of AC2, written by Jan Hamber, 2005 can be found at http://www.condorlookout.org/AC2.html [thank you Jan :-)]

So there I was driving through the long panhandle of Okalahoma. Mile after mile of open fields bordered with barbed wire. After about 200 miles or so I was getting bleary eyed and kept thinking I was seeing black dots flitting around out of the corner of my eye. Finally pulled over - so I could blink. I soon realized that those black dots were not my imagination! There, sitting on the barbed wire in front of me was this teeny hummingbird. I found out later that this is a common occurrence. The sight of this teeny tiny bird sitting right next to a very sharp and rusty barb that was about the same size - well, what a contradiction!

Whenever I want to lift my spirits I play my "Blue-Footed Booby" video. This has to be one of my favorite birds. First of all they mate for life! Something most humans don't even do. And, my favorite part of all, they go through a courtship ritual every year too - where they face each other and show off their beautiful blue feet. Happy Happy.

This bird is found in the tropics of the Pacific and they breed any time of year depending on weather conditions and whether or not there is enough food......mainly fish.

"Organized by Nature"
5" x 7" Pastel
Available

I recently visited the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve near Los Angeles and was very excited to see all the wildlife gathered there. This is a wonderful reserve, very well maintained and worth a visit. I came away with many reference photos. There is one place where you walk over a stream - and underneath the walkway was this amazing display of old and new reeds. They were going in all different directions yet they looked as though they had been purposely placed that way. A Great Egret was standing atop the mix, patiently fishing. The water was so black and there were so many reeds, I'm not sure what he was fishing for. What I liked most about this composition were all the drastic contrasts and the fact that the reeds were in an order organized by nature, not man.

Short Eared Owl Sedge Wren
5" x 7" Pencil5" x 7" Pencil
AvailableAvailable
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