Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Wild Bee Balm ~ "Spark Of Life" ~ "Songbirds & Friends" ~ Watercolor
From the Collection Songbirds & Friends
A hummingbird is pure energy made small. The Ruby-Throated is the only one that nests across the eastern states, and a single bird can visit a thousand blooms in a day, its heart racing, its wings a blur, that throat flaring red and then gone. Painting one is like trying to hold a spark in your hand -- which is exactly what I was after here.
I gave it wild bee balm again, because nothing draws these birds like those shaggy red blossoms, and because I never tire of that pairing. Where 'A Moment Of Harmony' is the bird at rest, this one is the bird as motion -- the flash, the hover, the sheer aliveness of it. I built it wet-on-wet, in layers, with no drawing first, keeping the brushwork fast so the energy never settles into something static.
An original watercolor on paper, one of a kind. 'Spark Of Life' -- the smallest bird in the garden carrying the most fire.
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.
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My Process
The Brushes
High-quality squirrel hair watercolor brushes allow for fluid washes and intricate details, essential to my process.
The Paint
Vibrant Gansai Tambi Japanese watercolors bring my avian portraits to life with their luminous, expressive hues.
The Technique
I fuse classical precision with the spontaneity of sumi-é to craft portraits that vibrate with life.