“There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.” -Robert Wilson Lynd
Birdwatching often takes the nature lover to stunning natural landscapes – wetlands teeming with life, mountain meadows alive with songbirds, and serene alpine lakes where their pristine locations captivate the senses.
Add hiking and photography to the mix, and trekking in nature becomes a timeless experience that’s good for the mind and the soul.
Washington State Alpine Lake Hiking
Washington state has some of the best hiking systems. One late summer day, we took a hike on the Cutthroat Trailhead off the Cascade Highway 2 in Washington State to Cutthroat lake. It’s a beautiful alpine lake with fascinating rock formations. A perfect spot to relax and look up at the clouds.
Here, we encountered one of the state’s big personality birds, the Gray Jay. For many indigenous cultures, Gray Jays hold symbolic meaning. Some see them as tricksters or messengers, while others view them as guardians of the mountains.
Meeting A Clever Camp Robber
These clever gray and white birds are known as “Camp Robbers” for their notorious thieving skills. I closely guarded my snacks, knowing they are incredibly intelligent and quick, making them masters of snatching food before you can even blink.
Photographing a Gray Jay is very easy because they are not shy. They’ll perch on a location within a few feet of where you rest, hoping for a handout.
They rank among the top corvids alongside crows and ravens. They can remember the location of thousands of hidden food caches, even months later, and are known for their playful antics and problem-solving skills.
An Ecological Helper
Gray Jays are resilient and play a crucial role in the alpine ecosystem by dispersing seeds of conifers and other plants, helping to regenerate forests. They also control insect populations, keeping the balance in check.
Another one of their strengths is resilience. Much of the year, their natural habitat is snow-covered. Their feathers are thick for insulation, and they can alter their metabolism to conserve energy during the winter.
From Photo to Canvas
Gray Jays can teach us a lot about life, and they make terrific subjects for the photographer’s eye and lens.
After photographing one of their curious poses, the next natural step is to turn the photo into artwork!
Painting birds and incorporating them as art subjects can be a profoundly respectful practice, fostering observation, appreciation, storytelling, and connection with the natural world.
Bird’s Teach Us About Life and Cooperation
By employing sustainable practices and using their art to inspire conservation, bird painters can contribute to a more harmonious relationship between humans and the avian kingdom.
Become One
When creating an illustration of a character, it can be fun to imagine being them in their environment.
What are they interested in? What’s their personality? What is catching their attention in their environment? Are they heading anywhere? What is their current state?
When you ask questions about the character, it can give your art more life and meaning!
Adapting Artwork to Other Designs & Products
After completing your initial illustration, you can design your artwork for further use. The following slideshow images are examples of tangible products that are perfect for the Gray Jay illustration!
If you are also a birdwatcher, you may enjoy checking out the Gray Jay and other bird art, just click here > Bird’s We Like To Watch
Also you may enjoy checking out my completely free art lessons, no registration required. Plus come back as often as you like. Click here, for free online art tutorials.
Squirrels can be very well-behaved when presented with the right conditions. They always leave the bird feeders alone if I provide a tasty handout, such as an apple core, leftover popcorn, or some old nuts. Some days they appear to smile at me as if they know they have me well-trained.
I enjoy creating role models more than rebels, although both can serve a purpose. So what better role model than a squirrel for a cute animal character? There are several features to consider when creating artistic characters in any art medium. On the top of the list is having a purpose, then after that comes personality and mannerisms, environment, and whose company they might make or keep.
A squirrel certainly checks off the list of the top considerations when rendering their essence into an animal character.