The Birds and Bird Nests Series (2004-2016)

The Artist’s Own Statement:

Bird Watching! Who watches Birds?

People who have nothing better to do: Get a Life!

Well yeah, I watched and painted crows for over 2 years. But they aren’t like birds, they’re fascinating, they are another species unto themselves!

However, after painting a series of three large ‘9/11’ paintings and not having the emotional energy to start the fourth, I was having coffee, watching the birds at the birdfeeder and thought “They really are pretty, they’re all different, and such a variety of songs. Ah! There’s a woodpecker…” and then I started… First with pencil, then I thought their different colors and patterns are really what separate them from each other. They move so quickly, how could I do them in color? I started with pastels (which I use a lot and love), but not fast enough — watercolors (not my favorite medium) but a lot faster than pastels or oils.

So instead of using photos, I created a “blind” using an evergreen branch, to conceal myself behind, and sat at the window for hours, brush in hand, watching the birdfeeder, and waiting- just to capture very short glimpses, and get their movement down on paper.

People travel the world never realizing the variety and beauty of birds in their own backyard. That’s how my bird-watching experience began; now I’m hooked.

In our section of the Connecticut shore, I was able to observe an astonishing variety of birds, from Robins and Sparrows, to Grackles and Woodpeckers, and even the bright green Monk Parrots which had lived year-round in the trees of our neighborhood!