Sunset Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
WIP (23 hours)
Acrylic on Gessobord, 16” x 20”

I’m still chugging away at this painting! It’s taking shape a little more each day. There’s still a lot that I want to fix, but I’m finally overcoming “the blahs” stage!

Pinnacles National Park
February 24, 2013

When I moved to the Bay Area, I did so with the intent of seeing as many birds as possible. And I absolutely could not miss the chance to see one of the rarest birds in the world: the California Condor, living free in its original habitat. By all rights, it should be extinct due to poaching, poisoning, and habitat destruction. But thanks to the people who captured the remaining 22 birds in 1987, it was saved by captive breeding programs and now about 226 of these birds live in the wild. And one of the best places to see these birds is just two hours away from my current home, in (newly-designated) Pinnacles National Park.

We set out onto the trail at about 8 am, when the parking lot was still empty. My roommate and I had the trail to ourselves as we explored the open section of Bear Gulch cave, which is home to breeding Townsend’s big-eared bats at some times of the year. It had quite a few tight squeezes; I am a pretty thin person, but at 5’9” (and carrying a backpack of camera gear) I certainly had to squeeze my way under some of the outcroppings. The effort was well-worth it, though - just make sure to bring a flashlight if you go, as they are required in the caves!

When we left the cave and doubled back to Bear Gulch to begin the long hike High Peaks Trail. It was 1400+ feet of elevation gain along the way, but the sights were well worth it. We passed the restroom hut near Scout Peak and continued along the ridge, lamenting the lack of condors thus far. But there was no arguing that the view alone was well worth the long grind up the hill. We stopped at an outcropping to rest and take photos, and as we settled in, I just happened to glance up at the right moment.

“Look up, look up, LOOK UP!” I hissed. A huge California Condor glided right over our heads - so close that I couldn’t even fit it in the frame of my camera lens.

My mind was blown. The condor continued past us and even its massive hulk was soon dwarfed by the surrounding cliffs. It circled around, gliding along the mid-morning thermals, spiraled high into the sky, and disappeared over the ridge. We sat in stunned disbelief for several moments before uncontrollable flailing took over. Within minutes, another condor (confirmed by the different wing tag) came around, and we were treated to a repeat showing.

Running high on excitement, we eventually set off along the trail again, and soon ran into a tech using radio telemetry to find the condors. At first, she thought we had seen turkey vultures, which were circling the area in spades. It was an understandable assumption - from a distance, the two are easily confused, and in a place where people flock to see the condors, many park visitors mis-identify them in their excitement. But I was able to find the photos on my camera, and not only confirm the sighting, but also provide the tag number for reference. (We did not notice the second tag until we got home.)

When we continued on, the trail became more busy and more strenuous. In some places, it is nothing more than rough ladder steps carved into the rock. Thankfully, there is at least a rail to help hikers up and down the steep, narrow steps. As we crossed the peaks and dropped back down Condor Gulch Trail towards the parking lot, I could feel the 4-hour, 6.7-mile hike wearing at me. The trail became more and more crowded, and when we reached the parking lot, we could see that it was completely full and rangers were sending people far back down the road to another lot. Lesson learned: arrive early!

I can’t even describe the elation I felt at seeing such a rare, majestic bird, so close, out in the wild. It is truly an honor. The hike is long and exhausting, but it is absolutely worth it. Even if you don’t see any condors, the views alone are unparalleled. I came out of this hike with a CF card full of reference photos, and a head full of artistic inspiration. Do yourselves a favor, and take the time to visit and support this amazing place!

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
WIP - layout

Been planning a new painting, and this week has been taken up by layout and research! This piece was inspired by my walks up in Coyote Hills - in fact, that very rock is the exact spot where I’ve seen American Kestrels virtually every time! I’m leaning towards doing this one in watercolor… may even turn it into a “raptors of the Bay Area” series at some point.

I also discovered the amazing Feather Atlas put together by US Fish and Wildlife while researching this piece. If you are an artist who draws/paints North American birds, bookmark that site! It is a godsend for feather reference!

Snowy Owl
WIP - 13 hours
Acrylic on Gessoboard, 16” x 20”

Work continues… I’ve got most of the areas blocked in (with the exception of the foreground grass)… now comes the really fun part: playing with the lighting to create the most magical effect!

Snowy Owl
WIP - 9 hours
Acrylic on Gessoboard, 16”x20”

Work space in intern housing may be non-existent, but never fear - that doesn’t stop me! I’ve spent the weekend getting started on painting my snowy owl piece. The sky and water are blocked in… time to start on the owl and foreground!

Western Scrub-Jay
WIP, 8”x10”

Now that I’m getting settled into my new home at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, it’s time to get down to work! There’s lots of charismatic Western Scrub-Jays around the visitors center, so I see them out the window all day long. I couldn’t not draw one! This is just an ink outline, but I’m in the process of adding watercolor now. Keep an eye out for the final version!

Snowy Owl Sunset
Bubo scandiacus
Digital Color Thumbnail

I saw this snowy owl on a trip up to Boundary Bay, BC last spring, and it’s high time to turn it into a painting! This is a small color thumbnail that I worked up, so now it’s time to start translating it to a physical painting!

Tricolored Heron
Acrylic, 18” x 24”

I’ve finally got this one back from the printer’s so here’s a professional scan! Now, to varnish it… and as every artist knows, that’s incredibly nerve-wracking!

I would like to offer giclée prints at some point, although with moving this weekend it’ll have to wait a bit. I am trying to decide whether to do the original 18”x24” for about $100, or make them smaller and more affordable 9”x12” prints for about $30 each. If you would be interested in either one, please let me know so I can gauge interest!

Tricolored Heron
Completed - 24 hours, 15 minutes
Acrylic, 18” x 24”

I FINALLY finished this! It took a lot of tries to get the feathers just right, but the extra time was well worth it! This is just a quick photo, but once I get another piece or two done I’ll get into the printers to get them scanned properly. I’m hoping to submit this piece to some juried exhibitions, so keep your fingers crossed for me!

This painting is based off a photo that I took at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Titusville, FL. I can’t recommend that place enough to all the nature lovers out there! Some of the most amazing bird life in the country, and so easy to get close to them. Plus beautiful scenery. Do yourself a favor and get out there!

Tricolored Heron
WIP - 22 hours
Acrylic, 18” x 24”

After running into some trouble, I had set this painting aside for a couple of months. Today I took another shot at it with a clearer head. I’m still not happy with the forewing, but I’m pretty satisfied with the rest of it. I just got to get those primaries right!