The Art of the Bird

6/7/26: did this with oil pastels on a very smooth piece of cardboard & it was hard to build up the light colors without it getting overpowered by the darker ones already there. the pink is acrylic paint.

Many birds have UV-reflecting parts. In Red Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan), combs above the eye reflect much brighter in the UV spectrum in females and immatures than in adult males. This is likely because carotenoids, pigments which produce red-colored skin and feathers in many birds, seem to mask UV reflectivity, but read more at Mougeot et al. 2007, which inspired this illustration.

Shop originals, prints, and commissions

November 30, 2024 - Blackish Tapaculo (Scytalopus latrans) These tapaculos are found in forests, bamboo, scrub, and swampy areas in the Andes from western Venezuela through Colombia and Ecuador into northern Peru. Foraging on or near the ground, they feed on small arthropods. They build ball-shaped nests in natural or excavated cavities in earthen banks covered in moss and ferns. Both parents probably feed the chicks.

collection of cute animals cos why not <333

have a sale coming up this weekend at the studio (it's the july members sale)! if you're localish to san pedro, it would be lovely if you stopped by and said hello! Or if you have local friends, please tell them to stop by! here's the details again: WHEN: july 18 & 19th 2026 Saturday hours: 10a-6pm, Sunday hours: 11am-3pm WHERE: Blue Water Clay, 803 S Pacific Ave, San Pedro CA 90731 (BWC tends to post the most information on their ig unfortunately) payment: in general, the sale is accepting cash, venmo & zelle. i will be able to take card & tap payments personally (it's up to each member on how they handle their sales) What's Available: I'll have a full table of my handmade ceramics from this year and a few pieces from last year! Lots of new stuff from my Bird Collection and other work. There are also 12 other members who will have their stuff available, so lots of different ceramic styles to choose from! ---- Note to non local peeps: My etsy shop will be going into vacation mode TOMORROW (july 16), US pacific timezone (probably 9amish) and many of the pieces that are currently available there are going to be in this sale. If there's anything you've been eyeing, now is the time to snag it as it may sell in the sale (it may not too, just letting folks know. i got a lot of sad "where did this go??" messages after my last sale so here's all the heads up i can possibly give). it will re-open next week after i've recovered/done inventory (probably mid week if i have to guess)

June 28, 2026 - Sunda Coucal (Centropus nigrorufus) Found only on the island of Java in Indonesia, these cuckoos live in marshes, mangroves, swamps, estuaries, and nearby scrubby and grassy areas. Foraging on the ground, they eat insects and their eggs, frogs, snails, slugs, geckos, snakes, small mammals, and sometimes green rice seeds. Breeding from January to March and June, they build messy nests from ferns and grass leaves in clearings near rivers or in mangroves. They are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat loss and degradation as well as some trapping for the pet trade.

Also a nice model for me while I play with some brushes and textures.

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