Red-bellied Woodpecker ~ "Songbirds & Friends" ~ Watercolor

This red-bellied woodpecker watercolor captures a bird whose name is a small mystery — the red is on its head, not its belly. (There's a faint wash of pink on the lower belly, but good luck seeing it in the field.) What you do see is that brilliant red nape and crown, the bold black-and-white barred back, and a personality that owns every feeder it visits.

I painted this freehand on archival cotton rag paper with Kissho Gansai pigments from Kyoto. The zebra-striped back pattern was the painting's technical challenge — precise enough to read as barring, loose enough to feel alive. Natural mineral pigment washes built the warm gray body and vivid red crown through wet-on-wet layering. Despite their name, red-bellied woodpeckers are most easily identified by the vivid red cap and nape that sweeps from forehead to the back of the neck. The 'red belly' is actually a faint wash of pink on the lower abdomen that's almost impossible to see in the field. This bird's most dramatic feature is its boldly barred black-and-white back, which creates one of the most graphic patterns in the songbird world.

A cheerful, characterful original from my Songbirds & Friends collection. One of a kind. Free shipping, complimentary insurance, and certificate of authenticity included. Framing options 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.

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.