Easy to see why they were considered sacred. These are such stately, distinctive birds.
Sacred Ibis
illustration
Barn Owl
I also love owls. They have such personality. Sadly, this is not one of my best owls in this series. But he’s still an attractive fellow. I love that he’s sitting on a bone, too.
American Goldfinch
At this point in the year of birds, we were three months into trying to have a baby, and now I was definitely one month pregnant. Just pregnant enough to be slightly miserable, but not pregnant enough to tell anyone. So the baby bird drawings, while infrequent, now start in earnest. I love this one. The urgency of their squawking little faces, the vivid colors of their naked necks… it was fun to draw.
European Robin
Robin drawn without his redbreast. A study in wing feathers with graphite rather than color.
King Vulture
The wattle on this bird was fascinating and puzzling. By the time I figured it out enough to render it, I had no energy left for the neck feathers. But their rushed quality actually works for me. It didn’t become too stiff or precious, as sometimes happens.
Saddlebilled Stork
Oh saddle-billed stork, you are so grumpy in appearance. What brave little imp would dare to ride your saddled visage?
Great Egret
For anyone who has been keeping track, it should be fairly obvious by now that I love these birds This makes my fourth one, my April Egret. At this point, I realized that I had drawn this bird once each month during the project. I resolved to break out of that pattern and be a little more adventurous from here on out. But just in case you were curious, here they are: January, February, and March.
Rhea
In stark contrast to the Snowy Owl Chick from the previous night, the Rhea is a hurried, ungraceful affair. I am not pleased.
Snowy Owl Chick
Of the whole year of birds, this is definitely one of my favorites. And it has been hard to choose favorites. But with this bird, I was able to capture such a intensity of expression and texture, that the end result surprised me. I love to be surprised by art, especially my own,
This is one of the few birds that I probably won’t sell, but will keep.
claire meyler 