We are so inspired by the amazingly talented young bird artists that are exhibiting in this year’s Taking Flight exhibition. Since we all have to be isolated to stay safe, we wanted to bring you a virtual exhibit and a little background about the artists. We still hope to have a physical exhibition of the original art, but we want to share this wonderful work now.
Today, we are featuring Evan Whang (Age 5), an artist from Massachusetts.
Owls of North America by Evan Whang (Age 5)
Evan’s Message for Owls of North America
Evan became fascinated by owls after seeing a live bird presentation. He drew these birds based on photos from a book about owls of North America.
Dancing Rooster by Evan Whang (Age 5)
Evan’s Message for Dancing Rooster
Evan likes drawing chickens and roosters. He says that he would like to live on a farm and raise chickens and roosters one day.
Evan Creating Art
“I have always loved birds. I liked them because they were all different. Like a pelican is different from a robin.”
“I started drawing birds when I was 3 & a half years old. You just need to practice!!!!!”
“My first favorite bird was the pheasant, because I got interested in the colors. My second favorite was the cassowary (I got interested in the big lump on its head.) Then I got interested in owls. Mainly I got interested in birds because of how they look! I also like their songs, especially those of the wood thrush.” ~ Evan Jaesun Whang
We are so inspired by the amazingly talented young bird artists that are exhibiting in this year’s Taking Flight exhibition. Since we all have to be isolated to stay safe, we wanted to bring you a virtual exhibit and a little background about the artists. We still hope to have a physical exhibition of the original art, but we want to share this wonderful work now.
Today, we are featuring London Peterson (Age 15), an artist from Eufaula Oklahoma.
Feathered Rainbow by London Peterson
Artist Message about Feathered Rainbow
Birds have become an unconscious part of peoples’ daily lives. The average person may occasionally acknowledge the presence of an obvious or interesting bird, but the memory will quickly fade into the recesses of the person’s mind, failing to spark the desire to uncover the bird’s many fascinating secrets. The person must be willing to drag himself out of his own busy thoughts, slow down, and allow his natural curiosity to win over if he really wants to peer into the secret life of a bird; he will find that its natural beauty warms his soul. I chose this bird, the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, because it is a little-known but startling bird that sparked curiosity in me and, I hope, will in the viewers of my painting.
London creating Art
For me, art is more than a hobby- it’s the way I get away from daily routine and immerse myself in a completely different life. This life is founded on a ceaseless admiration of the natural world, and my own attempts to do it justice. I don’t think there is any joy like that of pouring your whole heart into a painting and then feeling immense satisfaction when it correctly reflects the vision in your head. To accurately portray one of God’s creatures brings me utter delight, and I strive to do it better every time I lift my paintbrush.
We are so inspired by the amazingly talented young bird artists that are exhibiting in this year’s Taking Flight exhibition. Since we all have to be isolated to stay safe, we wanted to bring you a virtual exhibit and a little background about the artists. We still hope to have a physical exhibition of the original art, but we want to share this wonderful work now.
Today, we are featuring Miguel Rodriguez (Age 5), a young artist from Bogata, Colombia
El Pais de los Pajaros [The Country of the Birds] Miguel Rodriguez (Age 5)
Artist Message
“I live by an Humedal (Wildlife Refuge) in the middle of a big city in the country of birds. My country has the most birds or the most shapes and colours in the world! My country is the country of birds!”
Miguel Creating Art
Enjoy these wonderful photographs of Miguel creating art.
We are so inspired by the amazingly talented young bird artists that are exhibiting in this year’s Taking Flight exhibition. Since we all have to be isolated to stay safe, we wanted to bring you a virtual exhibit and a little background about the artists. We still hope to have a physical exhibition of the original art, but we want to share this wonderful work now.
We are so inspired by the amazingly talented young bird artists that are exhibiting in this year’s Taking Flight exhibition. Since we all have to be isolated to stay safe, we wanted to bring you a virtual exhibit and a little background about the artists. We still hope to have a physical exhibition of the original art, but we want to share this wonderful work now.
Today, we feature Eleanor Smith and her artwork, Northern Harrier. She is 16 and lives in Utah.
Artist’s Message
“Without a doubt, there are relatively few animals more majestic than birds of prey. Whenever I watch Northern Harriers fly overhead, I am captivated by their graceful beauty. I wanted to convey this power and gracefulness in my piece, ‘Northern Harrier’.” ~ Eleanor Smith
Eleanor Smith (Age, 16)
I’ve been making art since I was just little, but I didn’t really get serious about it until middle school. One of my favorite things about art is exploring new media.
I love to experiment with new and unconventional art forms like paperclay sculpture or block printing.
Growing up in Utah has given me access to a unique natural environment. I love being outdoors, and most of my art is influenced by the nature around me. I especially love drawing birds; when I was in elementary school, I would spend hours walking around the lake near our house and looking for sandhill cranes and pheasants. My dad, an avid birder, would help me identify different birds, and I would use field guides to draw the birds I saw. Even today, I’m fascinated by the diversity and beauty of wildlife.
We are so inspired by the amazingly talented young bird artists that are exhibiting in this year’s Taking Flight exhibition. Since we all have to be isolated to stay safe, we wanted to bring you a virtual exhibit and a little background about the artists. We still hope to have a physical exhibition of the original art, but we want to share this wonderful work now.
Today, we feature Mackenzie Casto and her artwork, Blue Majesty. She is 14 and lives in Massachusetts. Learn more about Mackenzie at her website and facebook page.
Blue Majesty by Mackenzie Casto (Age 14)
Artist Message about Blue Majesty
“I find the Boat-billed Heron fascinating! I love how the Boat-billed Heron has such vibrant blue-blackish colored feathers. This bird is unusual because it is one of very few birds that are nocturnal. This bird also has a powder down special type of feather that never molts and grows continuously! For all these reasons this is one of my favorite birds!” ~ Mackenzie Casto
Artist Statement
“I believe that art has the magic of bringing people together and making them happy. Even though I am only fourteen years old, I feel that I can make a positive difference in life through my artwork. I think the most important thing for me to do as an artist is to give people a feeling of strength when they look at my artwork and a feeling of being taken away from their troubles even if just for a minute. I like to paint animals because I think animals are full of love and are really interesting. I hope to someday help animals and people with my artwork.” ~Mackenzie Casto
We are so inspired by the amazingly talented young bird artists that are exhibiting in this year’s Taking Flight exhibition. Since we all have to be isolated to stay safe, we wanted to bring you a virtual exhibit and a little background about the artists. We still hope to have a physical exhibition of the original art, but we want to share this wonderful work now.
Today, we are featuring Caroline Pollan and her artwork, Resplendent Quetzal. Caroline has had her excellent artwork exhibited in Taking Flight for the past three years.
Resplendent Quetzal by Caroline Pollan
Caroline Pollan (Age 14)
Artist’s Message: “One of my favorite species of bird is the Resplendent Quetzal. These birds, who are native to Central and South America, are considered one of the most beautiful in the world. And though their bright green plumage may stand out in captivity, they are extremely well camouflaged in their forest home. I used colored pencils to get the detail of the feathers and to have the amazing colors of the quetzal in my artwork for the bird itself. For the sky in the background I used acrylic paint.”
The Museum might be closed, but we’re still accepting submissions for Taking Flight, our youth bird art exhibition. Not sure where to get started with drawing birds? We’ve got you covered!
The goal of the Taking Flight exhibition is to create a greater awareness, conservation, and appreciation for birds while fostering the development of young artists and sharing their work with the public. Submissions will be accepted until June 15, 2020. Click here for more information.
Sandpiper, Maris Van Vlack (Age 16)
Getting Started With Nature Drawing
Advice for Young Bird Artists from Barry Van Dusen
Barry Van Dusen at Felix Neck, Martha’s Vineyard (Photograph by Sean Murtha)
We are so inspired by the amazingly talented young bird artists that are exhibiting in this year’s Taking Flight exhibition. Since we all have to be isolated to stay safe, we wanted to bring you a virtual exhibit and a little background about the artists. We still hope to have a physical exhibition of the original art, but we want to share this wonderful work now.
Enjoy learning about each artist in this series of blog posts. Our first artists are sisters, Iris Rosenhagen (age 14) and Cayla Rosenhagen (age 14). This post contains their artwork and why art is important to them.
Spotted Sandpiper by Cayla Rosenhagen
Artist’s Message: “On one of our frequent family birding outings, we were lucky enough to find this Spotted Sandpiper, hunting for food, on the rocky North Shore of Long Island. These birding adventures are such an important part of our lives. As they bring us closer as a family, they also bring us closer to nature. The search for rare, new, beautiful birds to spot, while being in the serene company of the untamed scenery around us is just such a powerful thing. A great wish of mine is that everyone could experience and enjoy this marvel, not only for their personal experience, but for the world. If everyone was out enjoying the beauty of nature, they would see more and more reasons to protect and conserve it.”
Crow and the Pitcher: Iris Rosenhagen
Artist Message: “From the blue jays in our yard that have trained me to feed them peanuts daily, to watching the tender courtship of a pair of crows, Corvids have always captivated me. More and more studies are showing that this family of birds possess remarkable intelligence that rivals that of apes. They exhibit an amazing memory, can recognize people’s faces, utilize tools, form strong social bonds, and even teach each other complicated tasks. One scientific study involved the use of a contraption that dispensed treats. Ravens were given a stone to drop into it and as a result, a treat dropped out. One raven figured out how to hack the experiment. He wedged twigs into the machine (removing the need to be given a stone) to receive an endless supply of treats. This raven had to be excused from the experiment because the scientists were afraid he’d teach the other participants.”
Artist Profiles: Iris and Cayla Rosenhagen
Cayla Rosenhagen and Iris Rosenhagen Cayla Rosenhagen
Why Art is Important to Me
“My art gives me an outlet to express my love of nature and share it with the world. I’ve always been inspired to draw the amazing wildlife around us, especially birds. Birds have always been such an important part of my life. Watching and drawing them gives me such peace.” ~ Cayla Rosenhagen
Why Art is Important to Me
Iris Rosenhagen
“I have loved both art and birds for as long as I can remember. The beauty and diversity of birds enchant me and warms my spirit. Similarly, watching birds fulfills me, just as art does. Take a walk among nature through the eyes of an artist and you will see that birds, along with all flora and fauna, are living pieces of art.” ~ Iris Rosenhagen
Iris and Cayla Creating an Ocean Mural
Thank you so much for reading this post and be on the look out for more coming soon!
Where’s Milly today? She’s in our Museum prep space cleaning up frames to make the artwork from Taking Flight, MABA’s international youth bird art exhibition, sparkle. Where will Milly visit next?
