Influences

My Backyard Birds are a beautiful reminder that nature is magnificent, and all living things depend upon us.

In the fall of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, I began my artist life. I was inspired by birdwatching and quickly logged over 100 species in my Bird Field Diary. My first painting was a small Anna's Hummingbird. But depicting these lovely creatures life-size somehow felt like a disservice to them. Because my greatest wish at that time was to make these small miracles more visible in our daily lives. As a result, now I paint all of my birds on oversized canvases.

Big things, I always thought, could not be missed. But I was wrong. Our natural world is in crisis. Since 1970, we've lost more than a quarter of the world's bird population. And the decline of these fair creatures is being echoed across the entire ecosystem of plants, insects, and wildlife.

I hope my work will help others stay connected to nature and become better caretakers.

In dreams, birds represent freedom, hope, and a connection to the universe. In ancient myths, they appear as gods or oracles. For me, they represent hope and healing for our future.