Birds in Contemporary Art & Photography

Contemporary Art

Bird Spectrum (2019), James Prosek

This post is inspired by artist, writer, and naturalist, James Prosek, who was born on this day in 1975. His main subjects are birds and fish. He has written several books, including his first book, Trout: An Illustrated History (1996), which included watercolors of seventy species and subspecies of North American trout. His Art, Artifact, Artifice exhibition was on view from February through June 2020, at the Yale University Art Gallery. It showcased his Bird Spectrum, a color arrangement of 200 digitally photographed bird specimens from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History collection. At first glance, it looks like schools of colorful fish swimming in a rainbow formation.

2018

2003

Prosek has also written books about fly fishing. You may also enjoy reading The Art of the Fishing Fly by Tony Lolli  (Author) and Bruce Curtis (Photographer). I have a friend from Montesano, Washington who makes his own flies and he is another inspiration for this post.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum had a wonderful exhibition from October 2014 - February 2015, called The Singing and the Silence: Birds in Contemporary Art. Check out the beautiful artwork by multiple artists, including Prosek's mural depicting the migration of a flock of passenger pigeons.

What once was is no more: Passing like a thought, flight into memory (2014), James Prosek

Modern Art

Wheat  Field with Crows (July 1890), Van Gogh

By contrast, we have Vincent Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Crows, which though colorful creates an ominous scene with a road that prematurely ends. One of his last compositions, it remains one of my all-time favorite bird paintings. I recall how in grade school we used to draw birds as squiggly 'V' shapes.

Sailboat At Le Petit Gennevilliers
(1874), Monet

Magpie (1868-69), Monet

I also love Claude Monet's subject bird perched on a fence amidst a marvelous snow scene. And his very impressionistic cloud of birds swarming above a sailboat.

Sea Gulls (1938), Newell Convers Wyeth

You may also be aware of how much I am in awe of the works of the amazing Wyeth family of Chadsford Township, Pennsylvania. The family's patriarch, N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945), is known for having illustrated many books, including Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

Soaring (1942-50), Andrew Wyeth

His son, Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) began by painting watercolors and then tempera paintings such as his iconic Christina's World. The Seattle Art Museum showed his In Retrospect exhibit from October 2017 thru January 2018.

The Rookery (1977), Jamie Wyeth

Andrew's son, Jamie Wyeth was born one year after his grandfather's death and has carried on the Wyeth legacy with great skill.

In researching this topic, I stumbled upon this biography of British artist and bird illustrator, Eric Ennion (1900-1981). You'll have to check out the link, as his illustrations are copyrighted by his estate. Also, check out these 10 Stunning Bird Photos to Inspire You.

Photography

And one of my favorites by my sister-in-law. Karen Patterson of a bird on horseback. It looks like the bird is contemplating a snowy mountain climb.

Coopers Hawk, Enumclaw, WA

Here's a wonderful photograph by my friend and Black Diamond Arts Alliance colleague, Zbig Kasprzyk. The softened texture of the background with its lines and muted colors is a subtle contrast that harmonizes and unifies the composition. Even the stump repeats the same green, blue, and tan colors.

Pumpkin Carving

Let's finish with my 2020 pumpkin carving of a raven spreading its wings in front of a harvest moon. I look forward to selecting and carving pumpkins every year, taking my inspiration from multiple sources. I copied the design from an image I found on the web to challenge myself and hone my carving skills.