Black Chinned Hummingbirds ~ "A Sight Of Wonder" ~ "Songbirds & Friends" ~ Watercolor

This black-chinned hummingbird watercolor captures a pair of hummingbirds in their iridescent splendor. "A Sight Of Wonder" celebrates the black-chinned hummingbird — a species whose throat patch reveals a hidden band of deep violet that only appears when the light strikes at exactly the right angle. That hidden beauty is what inspired the painting's name and drove every decision I made at the easel.

I worked freehand on archival cotton rag paper with Kissho Gansai pigments from Kyoto. Hummingbird iridescence is one of the greatest challenges in watercolor. The color isn't pigment — it's structural, created by light refracting through microscopic feather platelets. To suggest that quality, I built the throat patches through multiple wet-on-wet washes, letting the natural mineral pigments layer until the color seemed to shift with the viewer's position. No sketch, no planning. The birds appeared on the paper the way they appear in life — suddenly and impossibly.

This is a major piece in my Songbirds & Friends collection. While most songbird paintings work at an intimate scale, "A Sight Of Wonder" has the presence and visual impact of statement artwork. The composition places both hummingbirds in dynamic relationship — each bird has its own trajectory and energy while sharing the frame in a way that feels natural rather than staged. My MFA training at the New York Academy of Art gave me the anatomical precision to paint these tiny birds freehand at the scale needed to reveal their hidden detail, and the years of life drawing gave me the eye for gesture that makes them feel alive. One of a kind on archival cotton rag paper. Free shipping, complimentary insurance, and certificate of authenticity. Framing options including Optium Museum Plexi available.

Materials:  Each watercolor original is unique, the only one of its kind. Created on 300lb Arches Watercolor Paper with Japanese Sumi-é watercolor paint designed to last a lifetime.

Framing: Each piece is elegantly presented with light grey matting in a handmade wooden frame with a grey-washed finish. UV plexiglass and archival materials ensure long-lasting preservation. Crafted with care, our frames are 1.5" deep and handcrafted from solid wood by our trusted local framer.

Additional questions? Please see the FAQ

Cost: Shipping is FREE for all original works up to approx. 30x40". For large artwork, we cover the first $500 in shipping costs; please email us your zip code for a quote.

Packaging: All originals are shipped flat (not rolled). For work larger than 30x40", though our boxes are plastic-reinforced, you have a choice of wood crating to ensure safe transport for an additional fee.

Schedule: Unframed work ships within 1-2 weeks, while framed pieces require 2-3 weeks for delivery. Crated and oversized works may take 4-6 weeks. If your order is time-sensitive, please leave us a note during checkout and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

International: For international shipping, please contact us directly before ordering. Provide the items you are interested in and your shipping address so we can estimate the cost and any constraints.

Insurance: We provide complimentary shipping insurance for all orders. In the event that your item arrives damaged, please document it with pictures and notify us immediately so we can initiate a claim on your behalf.