Feathered Friends in Art

Today, April 8, is “Draw-a-Bird Day”. I know many of you are familiar with the story of seven-year-old Dorie Cooper and the joy she brought to others through drawing birds. It’s a touching story, so if you’re not familiar with it, take a moment, please, to learn about the history of this special little holiday: Draw-a-Bird Day.

Drawing birds was one of my first “attempts at making art”. As a child, I used to pore over pictures of birds, pencil in hand, thinking that if I just tried a little harder maybe I could capture that majestic beauty. Sadly, my bird-drawings never took flight. Just another of my childhood discouragements.

Once I actually began learning to draw — as a much older adult — of course I went back to birds! The results were better in many instances, but not really much to brag about. I’ve drawn and painted a few birds that have merit, such as the snowy white egret here — a colored pencil drawing.

For the most part, though, I’m content to paint my landscape scenes and let other artists show the exquisite beauty of our feathered friends in their art.

As I thought about Draw-a-Bird Day, I wondered about famous paintings featuring birds. We celebrate Draw-a-Bird Day as part of “having fun” with art — no talent required — yet I wondered how famous artists had approached the avian world. I truly couldn’t recall too many well-known paintings of birds. So, off I went on a search.

One that did come to mind was “The Little Owl” by Albert Durer, a watercolor and goauche painting done in 1508. Owls were often included in paintings as symbols of superstition, omens of dark events to come, harbingers of impending doom. Durer, however, said “As I grew older, I realized that it was much better to insist on the genuine forms of nature, for simplicity is the greatest adornment of art.” Note: Art resources often say this painting was done in 1506, but the date on the painting clearly shows 1508.

Another bird painting that came to mind was “The Kingfisher” by Vincent van Gogh. This is not one of his most famous works. I was familiar with it only because I’ve read and studied his art quite a bit.

In a letter to his brother, Theo, he wrote: ““What the moulting season is for birds – the time when they lose their feathers – setbacks, misfortune and hard times are for us human beings.”

Of course, when we think of birds and art, we’ll probably think first of John James Audobon, whose bird illustrations inspired my childhood desire to draw! I never tired of looking at pictures like these:

“I never for a day gave up listening to the songs of our birds, or watching their peculiar habits, or delineating them in the best way I could.” – John James Audubon

I was also somewhat familiar with “The Goldfinch” — a painting that hurts my heart. The goldfinch is chained to a perch. I want to set it free, to see it fly.

The painting is by Carel Fabritius. It inspired the Pulitzer prize winning novel, “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt. In her book, she writes, “And, in this staunch little portrait, it’s hard not to see the human in the finch. Dignified, vulnerable. One prisoner looking at another.”

I’ve also read and studied a lot about Claude Monet, and an issue of Artist magazine that focused on winter paintings included his “Magpie”.

I guess I’ve never really thought of it too much as a “bird” painting, but I love his quote that he would like “to paint the way a bird sings.” Yes, Claude, I’d love to do that too!

As I explored, I found more and more “bird-themed” paintings that I don’t recall ever seeing! Here are a few of my finds:

These are “Air” by Giuseppe Arimboldo; “The Floating Feather” by Melchior de Hondecoeter; “Peacock and Peacock Butterfly” by Archibald Thorburn; “Concert of the Birds” by Franz Snyders; and “Swifts” by Bruno Liljefors.

My favorite “new find” — although I think maybe I’ve seen this one before, is “The Threatened Swan” by Jan Asselijn.

An interesting note about this painting: It was the first acquisition of the “Nationale Kunstgalerij” — the forerunner of what is today the “Rijksmuseum” in Amsterdam. It’s believed that the painting has a political meaning, so if you’re interested in learning more, you can virtually visit the Rijksmuseum here: The Threatened Swan

Perhaps my “Feathered Egret” looks a bit out of place among these true works of art, but I am proud of it. I’d long wanted to draw birds, and for me, this one was a success. I was pleased with it, and happily shared it on Draw-a-Bird Day many years ago.

I’m still pleased with it, still proud of it, and still happy to share it on this Draw-a-Bird Day 2025.