Florida Scrub Jay ~ "Native Treasures" ~ "Songbirds & Friends" ~ Watercolor

This Florida scrub jay watercolor painting captures one of the rarest and most fascinating birds in North America. "Native Treasures" celebrates the Florida scrub jay — a species found nowhere else on earth, endemic to the scrub oak habitats of central Florida. These birds are intelligent, bold, and famously unafraid of humans. They'll land on your hand if you hold still. I wanted this painting to carry that fearless personality.

I worked freehand on archival cotton rag paper with my Kissho Gansai pigments from Kyoto, using the wet-on-wet technique that defines my process. The scrub jay's blue is different from other jays — it's softer, dustier, almost lavender in certain light. The natural mineral pigments captured that specificity beautifully. No preliminary sketch. The bird appeared on the paper the way scrub jays appear in the field — sudden, confident, completely present.

Florida scrub jays are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Painting one feels like a privilege and a responsibility. This is more than a portrait — it's a record of a species whose habitat shrinks every year. For collectors who care about the natural world, "Native Treasures" carries meaning beyond the aesthetic.

This is a major piece in my Songbirds & Friends collection, painted with the same rigor that led to collaborations with Google's Quantum AI program and exhibitions at MOCA Jacksonville. Only about 4,000 scrub jay families remain in the wild, making this painting both a work of art and a quiet document of rarity. One of a kind on archival 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.

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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.

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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.