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DEBORAH STRONG
AFCA

silk birds

Birds are the wildlife with which we most closely share our lives, having adapted to the most urban of settings. Since childhood Deborah has had a keen interest in observing birds, and as an artist she finds that silk painting is an exceptional medium for depicting them in their natural habitats. The lustre of the silk mimics the sheen of feathers, and the vivid dyes capture the energy of these lively creatures.

 


 

Bumps on a Log: Herring Gulls
Hand-painted silk; Image size 12"x24"

During the off season at a Vancouver Island beach, flocks of gulls gather to perch on the logs that define the limits of swimming area.

Original available - contact the artist


 
Beach Patrol: Sanderlings
Hand-painted silk; Image size: 12"x24"

These delightful little birds skitter along the shoreline, flitting here and there at lightning speed in their search for food. I observed this flock while visiting Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island.

Original available - contact the artist

 

Urban Flock
Hand-painted silk; Image size: 15"x30"

Many species of wild birds adapt well to urban life, few more-so than the ever-present Mallard. This flock was observed gobbling up seed thrown for their benefit in the parking lot of a local park.

Original available - contact the artist



 
Omens of Change:
Raven among Fall Aspens
Hand-painted silk; Image size: 15"x21"

On a fall trip to the Kootenay region, I observed this raven perched among aspens that were turning colour with the onset of cooler nights and shorter days. The raven, in turn, appeared to be observing me. In some First Nations cultures, the raven is considered to be a harbinger of change, and the golden colour of the aspen leaves is most certainly an indicator of the changing season.

Original available - contact the artist


 
Forest Carpenter: Pileated Woodpecker
Hand-painted silk; Image size: 12"x24"

This large, colourful bird seems almost too exotic for our BC rainforests but they're not an uncommon sight in woodlands
or even occasionally at back-yard birdfeeders. This one was hammering away in a hollow tree in Campbell Valley Park, occasionally checking the surrounding area for signs of danger. The surrounding trees were just beginning to show signs of fall. The sound of a pileated woodpecker at work, thumping away vigorously in search of insects, always makes me think of a my dad. As a child, I could often pinpoint his where-abouts on the family acreage by the rhythmic pounding of his hammer or axe.

Original available - contact the artist

 


 

Blue Heron
Hand-painted silk; Image size: 13"x19"

This great blue heron was observed fishing patiently just off shore on Vancouver Island, where colourful starfish can be observed clinging to the rocks.

Original available - contact the artist

 


 

Solitary Oystercatcher
Hand-painted silk; Image size: 8"x18"

I have to admit that I have a minor obsession with these not-so-common shorebirds. There's something about their red beaks and eyes, and the interesting sounds they make that's absolutely captivating!

Original available at Monk Art Gallery in Parksville

 


 

Spring Mallard
Hand-painted silk; Image size 14"x14"

As observed the Campbell River wetlands in Campbell Valley Park, Langley.

Original available - contact the artist


 

Harbinger of Spring: Red-winged Blackbird
Hand-painted silk; Image size: 12"x20"

I love to walk my dog at a local park that's a mixture of woodland, marshes, ponds and fields that were once part of a large farm. The only visible remnants of the farm are the remains of old barbed-wire fences. Early in the spring, the red-winged blackbirds arrive, one of the first migrant species, and the males declare their territories often from the vantage point of a handy fencepost. Their distinctive call never fails to lift my spirits because I know that spring is on the way.

Original available - contact the artist


 

Trinidad Toucan
Hand-painted silk; Image size 14"x18"

In the northern range of mountains on the Caribbean island of Trinidad is a population of elusive toucans. Birders from far and wide visit the island in the hopes of catching a glimpse of this legendary bird. If the wild birds don't cooperate, there is a thriving captive population in the island's Emperor Valley Zoo.

Original available at Horizons Art Gallery, St. James, Trinidad


 

Sunset at Caroni: Scarlet Ibis
Hand-painted silk

At sunset in Trinidad's Caroni Swamp something magical happens: hundreds, even thousands, of brilliant scarlet birds descend upon selected trees in a wave of unparalleled colour. These flocks of scarlet ibis return from their feeding grounds to roost for the night, then set forth again at dawn.

Original available at Horizons Art Gallery, St. James, Trinidad

Silk paintings of birds observed in Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, and other countries.