As an artist, I spend a great deal of time contemplating the nature of color. What makes you walk past one flower but stop and stare at another? Why do you choose to wear the color clothes you do? To me, the funny thing about color is that despite all my thinking about it, its power over us really defies contemplation. We're not moved because of how we study it; it just hits us.
Mother nature has selected some of the most striking and impactful color combinations over many hundreds of millions of years, and she's many steps ahead of those of us with lowly oils and brushes. I turned to nature for creative ideas and found some of the best examples of color in native and exotic birds. I decided to create an art project that was inspired by the best of them, ideally representing types of birds found all over the globe.
This was as much a personal exploration for me - as I experimented with the way my mind's eye perceives color - as it was an homage to these beautiful birds themselves. As I studied these creatures, I was fascinated to learn that some have visual acuity far more advanced than ours. That they are capable of perceiving colors we can't even see. What would these 'undiscovered colors' look like? What words could we even use to describe them? I was also saddened to learn how severely threatened many of these species' habitats are, about the grave danger they face due to deforestation and climate change. I hope this abstract art series brings some attention to the precious jewels we share this planet with and the dire need to help protect them.
I've chosen to feature authentic photographs of these unique bird types next to my paintings so viewers can appreciate the original subjects juxtaposed with my interpretation of them. There are a total of 10 paintings, all done on stretched canvas with acrylic and heavy oil. I hope you reflect and enjoy!
Peace,
Shalimar
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Painted Bunting
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched canvas.
Inspiration, Painted Bunting
Image credits: Wikimedia
Nicobar Pigeon
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched canvas.
Inspiration, Nicobar Pigeon
Image credits: Wikimedia
Eurasian Jay
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched canvas.
Bird of inspiration, Eurasian Jay
Image credits: Wikimedia
Flame-faced Tanager
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched canvas.
Bird of inspiration, Flame-faced Tanager
Image credits: Wikimedia
European Roller
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched canvas.
Bird of inspiration, European Roller
Image credits: Sumarie Slabber
Hildebrandt Starling
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched.
Bird of inspiration, Hildebrandt Starling
Image credits: Wikimedia
Resplendent Quetzal
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched canvas.
Bird of inspiration, Resplendent Quetzal
Image credits: Wikimedia
Rufous-Backed Kingfisher
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched canvas.
Bird of inspiration, Rufous-Backed Kingfisher
Image credits: Wikimedia
Southern Carmine Bee Eater
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched canvas.
Bird of inspiration, Southern Carmine Bee Eater
Image credits: Bob Gunderson
Paradise Tanager
Acrylic and heavy oil on stretched canvas.
Bird of inspiration, Paradise Tanager
Image credits: Nathan Rupert