24x36 inches, mixed media on wood

The American Kestrel is a bird of prey that I find absolutely mesmerizing to watch. They are small little guys but very successful predators. They favor open fields which are common here in the Midwest. I find them sitting on telephone lines often while driving around in my daily life.

This piece is something I wanted to express for months. The concept haunted me until I could finally initialize the image. Kestrels are the only bird of prey able to hover in the air, like - perfectly hover. This stabilization technique helps them focus on prey and dial in on execution. Kestrels hover and maneuver on the wind, using their body, wings and tail to keep their head perfectly still.

I wanted to illustrate the agility and dedication of the kestrel. These birds are intelligent and resourceful, not only with wind but also with fire. In forest fires, kestrels will linger on the boundaries of the fires to watch for possible prey - flushed from the flames. I wanted to hint to this fact by painting the background a gloomy, dusty red, as if a forest fire was on the sun setting horizon.

This piece was a labor of love and it finally debuted at The Biggest Week of American Birding in May of 2024.

Male yellow throated warbler

Mixed media on wood, 18x18 inches.

Hands down one of the best bird calls, these vireos are stunners and one of my favorite birds. Sometimes they are hard to find since they love leaf cover but well worth the patience for a chance of a peak. Male white eyed vireo top, female on the bottom.

A great blue heron

Male

Stag beetle

Male (top) and female (bottom), Rose breasted grosbeaks

A portrait of a bald eagle

“ hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo”

Actually a warbler.

Male

Male

A portrait of a white peony.

Mallard duck portrait.

Daisies and ladybugs

Portrait of a female mallard duck.

Summer plumage

The sound of summer

Male.

Red morph

2024

In my experience, I typically hear a belted kingfisher before I see them. You can find these birds around ponds and streams.