A study of a African secretary bird, with inspiration from Alex Lenail. This gorgeous bird stands with power and grace. Its coloring was inverted and stylized in this study.

Secretary birds are tall, solitary birds that live on the African savannah. They use their long, lean legs to stomp snakes and lizards for food. They can fly, but flying is difficult given their weight, so they tend to stay terrestrial. There are images of the bird on knives recovered from Egypt c. 3200 B.C.

Watercolors and ink brushes on watercolor paper. March 2023.

Another look at the secretary bird. Here it is more playful, and perhaps in search of attention.

Watercolor and ink brushes on watercolor paper. March 2023.

A hibiscus painted while quarantining with family in Bengaluru, India. Hibiscus grows easily here and the giant, ornate blooms decorate many gardens and garlanded statue-busts. I love the light transculence peeking between the overlaps.

The challenge with live flowers is that they start to droop as soon as you pluck them from the branch. I had about fifteen minutes to get the outline of the hibiscus down before the crisp, crinkly folds sank into themselves.

Watercolor and marker on watercolor paper. January 2021.

A second study in flower petal crinkles. Watercolor and marker on watercolor paper. March 2021.

Two moth babies gaze across a flower cafe table, enclosed by their swampy dreams. Watercolor and marker on watercolor paper. November 2021.