Introducing the American Birds Collection
Small original bird oil paintings on stretched canvas
I am pleased to introduce my latest addition to the ‘Little Bird’ series of paintings, the first American Birds Collection. These four small original oil paintings on stretched canvas are inspired by nature and the diverse world around us. The paintings celebrate American bird life and the importance of how birds bring cultures together.
The ‘Little Bird’ paintings are designed with unique dead wood and peeling paint backdrops set behind the fragility of the living creature.
With climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss, bird and animal life is something that should be treasured in a world that is struggling with eroding habitats. These small bird paintings symbolise their importance - if we do not care for them, they will erode like the dead wood door they are painted against.
The series are painted on small, square stretched canvas 8 x 8 inches, in bright, beautiful quality pigments. Three are decorated with 24 karat gold leaf. The collection goes on sale today, 4th November 2021.
American Goldfinch
The inspiration behind “American Goldfinch” (or ‘wild canary’) is the bright yellow signature colour, which conjures up spring sunshine to brighten up even the gloomiest of days.
Painting this little wild yellow canary reminded me of warmer climates where the pulsating colours create a sense of summer and energy every day. “American Goldfinch” is set against a vibrant turquoise backdrop of a complex wooden door, with peeling paint and red ochre touches and metal handle decoration. The painting is sold set in a gold frame.
The oil pigments compliment the bird’s colouring making the painting modern and pleasing. This painting depicts a breeding male, with his lemon-yellow feathers, black forehead, and wings with white markings.
Blue Jay
Blue Jays are a symbol of clarity, vibrancy and intellect - songbirds that love to sing.
“Blue Jay” is inspired by the bird’s reputation and handsome pale-blue colouring. I have always been intrigued by them because they are loud, territorial and protective – fighters for their loved ones. The bird radiates light because of its dark backdrop.
They have beautiful darker feather markings, a perky crest and blue, white, grey, black plumage. The painting is set against an old wooden ochre red and dark blue-green door, with gold leaf studs and a round copper knocker. The painting is unframed on a thick-edged canvas painted black around the edges.
Blue Jays are one of the most intelligent and brightest birds with a controversial reputation. When a jay flies onto a feeding station other birds scatter. They have complex social systems and tight family bonds, often mating for life.
Northern Red Cardinal
Northern Cardinals are a symbol of hope and new beginnings, a beam of light in our complex world.
This vibrant, bright red male is set against a luminous turquoise, green, yellow and brown backdrop and decorated with gold leaf studs. The pigments are complementary to the bird’s colouring. The Northern Male Cardinal painting is unframed on a thick edged canvas painted black.
Male Northern Cardinals have brilliant red feathers, a black face mask, spiked red crest and bill. They are fairly large, long-tailed songbirds and delightful to have as visitors if you are lucky enough to have one in your garden.
Fledgling Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are a symbol of joy, freedom and good fortune.
Hummingbirds come in a variety of iridescent feather markings. The backdrop for this painting was created to complement the colouring of this little baby bird, set against an old wooden door with decoration, in turquoise and red ochre, enhanced with gold leaf. The painting is unframed on a thick-edged canvas painted black around the edges.
This little broad-tailed fledgling male hummingbird is from the central Rockies and mountains of south-western Montana and can also be seen in eastern and central Idaho and Oregon. They are the most common type of hummingbird in Colorado.
Original Watercolours
I created two watercolour paintings for this collection: Western Bluebirds and a female Northern Cardinal. These paintings were part of my 30 day watercolour challenge, to create a painting a day for 30 days. Upon completion of this, the paintings were enhanced with gold leaf and small details added to the design.
These original watercolour paintings are on fine grain textured watercolour paper, cold pressed, 300gsm weighted. Listing is for the unframed original paintings, shipped securely in reinforced envelope. Signed on the front and back. Sized 8.3 inch x 11.7 inch (A4 size).
Priced at only £100 each, these beautiful original watercolour paintings, enhanced with gold leaf, are very affordable and would make gorgeous gifts.
Original art greeting cards celebrating American Bird Life
These quality greeting cards are available in three designs (Blue Jay, Fledgling Hummingbird, Northern Red Cardinal). All Greeting Cards are taken from original paintings. Blank inside for your own message, printed with the highest quality pigment-based inks. From £3.50.
Commission a painting
Commission your own painting, perhaps a male and female Northern Cardinal or whatever pair of birds you love? Birds often display different colours between the male and the female which adds to their diversity.
Commissioning a painting is easy, and a unique partnership between the artist and the collector. I take the utmost care to achieve the vision that you are looking for when commissioning a painting. To book your painting commission, please contact me. All commissions are priced by quotation, according to your needs. You need only pay an initial a booking fee of £50 to secure your place in my schedule.
Sign up for Prints
Prints of these original small bird paintings will be released later next year. These are excellent reproductions showing optimum detail, gicleé printed (with pigment-based inks) using only archival materials. If you would like to be informed of when these are available for purchase, please join my email list.
‘Love, Joy, Create’ Blog – My love of nature inspires my art practice. Learning from nature, seeing animals and birds fills me with joy. Please follow along with me and create your own inspiration for your art by learning about nature and the world around us. art@patriciajvalentiart.com
Patricia Valenti is a representational contemporary fine artist and life-long painter, based in Kent in the UK, beginning her artistic studies as a young girl. Her passion for nature and the beauty of animals and wildlife can be seen in her work, transforming familiar animals and wildlife into stunning, realistic interpretations with emotional impact. Her walks around the surrounding countryside near her home inspire her work.