I have always loved nature. I grew up with a backyard abutting acres of woods that always brought wonder and a source of joy. I never knew what I’d see when I went out back. Sometimes I would be startled by a deer or bemused by a woodchuck. I’d see pheasants in my mom’s vegetable garden and the rose-breasted grosbeak making its return to our window feeder in May. I also spent summers camping in New Hampshire and Maine and lived outside most of the time. To me, my childhood spent outside was a place of timelessness – nowhere to be and no sense of needing to get back as long as it was before dark. I could just be and observe come what may.
I was reminded of this time when I quit working full time 7 years ago. I finally had free, unstructured time again to pursue the same things I did as a kid. I took long walks in the woods and observed nature. Although birdwatching had always been a casual pursuit, it took quitting my job to for me to officially become a “bird nerd” and get to witness the spring migration unfold.
It was during this time that I also shifted away from painting still life to birds and other critters. I realized that I love birds much like some people love cats (as I also do) and have become a bit of a crazy bird lady. So instead of painting a bowls of lemons for the zillionth time, I decided to paint what I love- from the common pigeon to the majestic Great Egret. My mission is to share their beauty and to engender a new found appreciation in, for example, the humble house sparrow.
These days, with a firehose of bad news about the loss of biodiversity and the negative impact of humans on the natural world, it is easy to sink into despair. I fret endlessly about what I can do, personally. Even though I try to make choices that reduce my impact (drive an electric vehicle, reduce plastic consumption, advocate for conservation, lifelong vegetarian and so on) there is still more I can do. So why not use my art to get the message out that “Birds Matter” with this reusable bag? I know it’s just a small step but every action counts and is the antidote to despair. If I can impact one other person with my art to takes steps to help bird conservation, then I have done my job on this crazy, beautiful planet.
All profits will go to Mass Audubon. Buy one today!
You may also consider other ways you can help by following the recommended guidelines for living a bird friendly lifestyle by the the Smithsonian Institute.