Wildlife Art Exhibition: A Passion for Birds

If you aspire to paint birds professionally (and live within reasonable distance of Redding, CT, in the USA), try to make it to the exhibition "Passion for Birds" at the Highstead Arboretum, where wildlife artist Katie Lee is showing more than 20 of her latest bird paintings. The exhibition is on until the end of November.

My favourites among Katie's paintings are the ones where she combines gouache with graphite.

(You may remember that I drew on Katie's teaching and knowledge for the article 10 Wildlife Painting Tips.)

Q: How does Katie know when a composition is finished and ready to paint?
A: "When I am teaching I explain this moment as if there are a number of ping pong balls each with a name such as accuracy of drawing, primary feather count, feet posture, pigment pattern, and composition. If all the ping pong balls bounce in the same rhythm the drawing is ready to paint. If even one is off then I still have work to do. A bad drawing becomes a really bad painting."
• Katie Lee's website
• Highstead Arboretum website