I suppose this is truly a Michigan painting, since it combines our state bird and state flower in one work of art. I really enjoyed working on this project. Robins are common enough to be overlooked by most people, but I try … Continued
Seeing the first Chipping Sparrow each spring puts a big smile on my face. These little guys always seem to be happy little bundles of energy. I’m sure they have nested on our spruce trees at some point, but I’ve … Continued
Around our house we call this painting the “Birch Perch.” This one has a bit of a history. I like the painting, but every time I look at it I feel a little sick to my stomach. Why? Here’s the “Readers Digest” version of … Continued
The first time I laid eyes on a king vulture I thought it was one of the most spectacular birds I’d ever seen. Of course, with the shades of gray in this sketch, you kind of miss out on its stunning color! In actuality … Continued
Some birds just seem to have a lot of natural charm. The Eastern Phoebe definitely falls into that category for me. Phoebes, like American Robins, are fairly tolerant of humans and will nest near houses, sheds and decks. My mother-in-law, who … Continued
This small watercolor of a male Bay-breasted Warbler is from around 1998 or 1999. I did the painting based on photos of a cooperative male in Magee Marsh at Crane Creek, Ohio. Original painting is available here.
Cedar Waxwings have been on the top of my wife’s request list for a long time. She has also been asking me to post a time-lapse video of a painting, so I did both on this one. … Continued
This painting was especially fun to work on. I took numerous photos of Bearded Barbets at the Toledo Zoo. Images taken in zoos have their limits. Often the backgrounds leave a lot to be desired. After a lot of research, … Continued
I thought I’d compile all the illustrations of extinct or presumed extinct birds that I did a while back on one page. It is very sad to think they are all gone forever.
This drawing sat on the back burner for a long, long time before it made the transition into a painting. I did the sketches for this at the Royal Ontario Museum in 2000. That may be my all-time favorite natural … Continued