The Power of Feathers

There's something mesmerizing about painting feathers in black and white. While most people think of feathers as delicate, colorful things, I see them as pure architecture - each one a masterpiece of engineering that catches light in ways that make my art absolutely sing.

When you strip away color, feathers reveal their true structure. The way light travels along each barb, creating depth and movement even in stillness. The dramatic contrast between the soft down close to the body and the sharp, defined flight feathers. In monochrome, every feather becomes a study in texture and form.

But here's what really draws me to painting Australian bird feathers: they're not just beautiful - they're functional statements of character. The cockatoo's crest isn't just decoration; it's communication, attitude, pure drama. The emu's loose, flowing feathers speak to power that doesn't need to be rigid. Even the little penguin's sleek feathers tell a story of efficiency and purpose.

In my reverse-painting process, where I build light from darkness, feathers become something almost ethereal. Starting with that deep black gesso, each white stroke reveals not just the physical structure, but the personality of the bird wearing them. The way a feather catches light tells you everything about how that bird moves through the world.

Feathers, it turns out, are perfect metaphors for the Australian birds I'm painting. They're both protection and display, function and art, practical and theatrical all at once.
Just like the birds themselves.

More Birds of a Feather updates coming soon as each character takes shape...