Kelly, I really enjoyed this post. I agree that birding and art making are good self care. As a fellow writer and photographer, I look at both as art making, however, I used to paint and have been hoping to add that back into my repertoire of art making in 2025.
I love your wood duck photos. The last photo of the wood duck in the tree looks as though he is truly posing to have his photo taken.
Oh 100% yes to writing and photography as art-making practices. I find that both have all the benefits discussed above, and I've definitely gotten into a flow state while doing both.
I do hope you take up painting again and would love to see what you make.
And thanks for the kind words about the wood duck photos. That last fella was a real charmer!
Kelly, that wood duck was a true charmer, he had real character. I am determined to get back to painting. I tried dabbling during the pandemic lock downs and I felt everything I created was bad art. I am going to give it a go again because bad art is better than no art and I feel I need more art in my life!
yes, absolutely way better than no art. We all make a ton of bad art, but that’s where lessons are learned, style is developed, and all the good art comes from. Happy painting!
Oh boy I absolutely LOVE those Robins with the berries!!!
And this whole post is so right on. I've been trying to spread the bird joy to whomever will listen bc of the wonders it's done for me. Kind of an evangelist that way lol
Of course! And thank you so much for the kind words. We’re in good company because I just changed one of the titles in my bio to birding evangelist LOL!
Also, I sell those robins as prints in my shop. They’re currently sold out but I can add more if you are interested! https://www.kellycballantyne.com/shop
Super post Kelly. I became interested in birding when I was a child so there were no groups to join at the time . My parents were not into birds so I started out as a loner browsing through bird books and watching from the kitchen window or in the garden. Trips to the countryside or coast were always welcomed. In later years, with my wife we formed a local group for children age 6 to 18 who were interested in birds. We did all kinds of arty projects with them, taught them about bird id and took them on field trips.
Since then I have run many courses for adults and taken them on birding trips across the UK and to some European countries.
I gain so much pleasure from helping others to spot and identify birds and other wildlife.
What a wonderful evolution! It's so wonderful you and your wife formed that group for children in your local community and that you've taken it even further. Birding is the gift that keeps on giving.
Such beautiful artwork here, Kelly. The cardinal was amazing off the bat, then all your Robin pieces were breathtaking, particularly with the berries. Nature and art add so much to our lives, particularly when working in conjunction.
I also enjoyed all you shared about Wood Ducks at the end—facts and photographs.
Thank you so much, James! The cardinal is proof if I just get out of watercolor’s way and let it do it’s thing, good things happen. And I’m so pleased you enjoyed the robins with the berries. I did a whole series of birds in that style, some I loved, some not so much. I’m getting back into the digital art with my monthly illustrations so it’ll be fun to see how things evolve. The past ones live here: https://www.kellycballantyne.com/100birds
What a beautiful series! You capture the personalities of the birds. Which ones are your favorites? I love the Marsh Wren (I’ve seen that specific profile so many times; Cedar Waxwing; that beautiful Pintail; Northern Saw-whet Owl; and that Brown Creeper is so accurate! All those sparrows, too. Thank you so much for making art and for sharing it.
Kelly I love this Northern Cardinal picture is it for sale? Or exchange 🤔😊 I can compose an original piece of music or write poetry or a short piece of prose (check out my Substack for examples). I am releasing my own music in 2025 it is meditative and uplifting why don’t you listen for free on sound cloud?
Thanks, Ben, that's so kind of you. This Northern Cardinal lives in my sketchbook and is not for sale but if I ever scan it and make it a print, I'll let you know! Thanks so much for the note about your music--very cool!
I love this idea of birding as "a great gateway drug for all things nature..." This was definitely relevant in my case. Also, that final photo of the male Wood Duck on the bare limb is amazing - love the colours!
Thanks, Neil! It’s great to hear you’ve shared a similar experience. And thanks so much for the compliment about the Wood Duck photo. It’s one of my favorites.
Kelly, I really enjoyed this post. I agree that birding and art making are good self care. As a fellow writer and photographer, I look at both as art making, however, I used to paint and have been hoping to add that back into my repertoire of art making in 2025.
I love your wood duck photos. The last photo of the wood duck in the tree looks as though he is truly posing to have his photo taken.
Oh 100% yes to writing and photography as art-making practices. I find that both have all the benefits discussed above, and I've definitely gotten into a flow state while doing both.
I do hope you take up painting again and would love to see what you make.
And thanks for the kind words about the wood duck photos. That last fella was a real charmer!
Kelly, that wood duck was a true charmer, he had real character. I am determined to get back to painting. I tried dabbling during the pandemic lock downs and I felt everything I created was bad art. I am going to give it a go again because bad art is better than no art and I feel I need more art in my life!
yes, absolutely way better than no art. We all make a ton of bad art, but that’s where lessons are learned, style is developed, and all the good art comes from. Happy painting!
Thanks Kelly!
Oh boy I absolutely LOVE those Robins with the berries!!!
And this whole post is so right on. I've been trying to spread the bird joy to whomever will listen bc of the wonders it's done for me. Kind of an evangelist that way lol
Also, thanks for the link! :)
Of course! And thank you so much for the kind words. We’re in good company because I just changed one of the titles in my bio to birding evangelist LOL!
Also, I sell those robins as prints in my shop. They’re currently sold out but I can add more if you are interested! https://www.kellycballantyne.com/shop
Absolutely very interested!! At least I will be when we’ve recovered from the holiday spending spree 💸 ðŸ˜ðŸ˜‚
Wonderful! It’ll take me a while to print some more so that works out great 💜
I can think of some people who would welcome your art next Xmas too…
Super post Kelly. I became interested in birding when I was a child so there were no groups to join at the time . My parents were not into birds so I started out as a loner browsing through bird books and watching from the kitchen window or in the garden. Trips to the countryside or coast were always welcomed. In later years, with my wife we formed a local group for children age 6 to 18 who were interested in birds. We did all kinds of arty projects with them, taught them about bird id and took them on field trips.
Since then I have run many courses for adults and taken them on birding trips across the UK and to some European countries.
I gain so much pleasure from helping others to spot and identify birds and other wildlife.
May the birds be with you.
What a wonderful evolution! It's so wonderful you and your wife formed that group for children in your local community and that you've taken it even further. Birding is the gift that keeps on giving.
Such beautiful artwork here, Kelly. The cardinal was amazing off the bat, then all your Robin pieces were breathtaking, particularly with the berries. Nature and art add so much to our lives, particularly when working in conjunction.
I also enjoyed all you shared about Wood Ducks at the end—facts and photographs.
Thank you so much, James! The cardinal is proof if I just get out of watercolor’s way and let it do it’s thing, good things happen. And I’m so pleased you enjoyed the robins with the berries. I did a whole series of birds in that style, some I loved, some not so much. I’m getting back into the digital art with my monthly illustrations so it’ll be fun to see how things evolve. The past ones live here: https://www.kellycballantyne.com/100birds
What a beautiful series! You capture the personalities of the birds. Which ones are your favorites? I love the Marsh Wren (I’ve seen that specific profile so many times; Cedar Waxwing; that beautiful Pintail; Northern Saw-whet Owl; and that Brown Creeper is so accurate! All those sparrows, too. Thank you so much for making art and for sharing it.
Oh, that's so nice to hear! My favorites from that series are the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Mourning Warblers, Woodcock, Palm Warbler, and Saw-whet.
That Ross's Gull is unbearably cute!
Right? Such a little cutie. I’m so glad I got to spend some quality time with this gull when they visited a couple years ago.
You had me at Cardinal. That watercolor of the Cardinal with haiku is wonderful!
Thank you so much, Dan!
Kelly I love this Northern Cardinal picture is it for sale? Or exchange 🤔😊 I can compose an original piece of music or write poetry or a short piece of prose (check out my Substack for examples). I am releasing my own music in 2025 it is meditative and uplifting why don’t you listen for free on sound cloud?
https://open.substack.com/pub/bendambrosio/p/im-on-soundcloud?r=3zkd2z&utm_medium=ios
Thanks, Ben, that's so kind of you. This Northern Cardinal lives in my sketchbook and is not for sale but if I ever scan it and make it a print, I'll let you know! Thanks so much for the note about your music--very cool!
I love this idea of birding as "a great gateway drug for all things nature..." This was definitely relevant in my case. Also, that final photo of the male Wood Duck on the bare limb is amazing - love the colours!
Thanks, Neil! It’s great to hear you’ve shared a similar experience. And thanks so much for the compliment about the Wood Duck photo. It’s one of my favorites.