Watching our resident cardinals in every season is always a joy! The dogwood tree is one of the loveliest flowering trees native to North America, filling the spring forest with exceptional beauty.

While staying at a friend's guesthouse this spring, we watched baby cardinals fluttering and leaving their nest for the first time. The devoted parents were kept busy feeding the youngsters and keeping a watchful eye on the three fledglings. The diligent parents worked together, encouraging the young birds to flutter up into the safety of the bushes in the sheltered garden.

I always enjoy the chance to work with the most vibrant pigments and the challenge of painting colorful birds. Carefully and thoughtfully applied layers of paint become rich colors as I seek to bring a sense of life and a moment in time to each painting.