I have these living near my house. I hear them more than see them though. One day I was walking along a path, and there was a pileated woodpecker on a tree very near me. It just stayed there for a long time.

I guess it was a couple of years ago now that Holly and I were going into the Bluewater Cafe in Grand Marais. The city had put out wooden planter boxes, and we noticed a little bird perched there right in front of the restaurant entrance. Holly picked it up and it perched on her finger for a while. Someone passed by and identified the bird. It was so beautiful with that vibrant crown. Before long, it flew away toward the harbor. That’s the experience that this painting brings to mind for me. Songbirds are like little jewels, and it’s really amazing to see them close up. This painting is acrylic on a 12×12 canvas

Last fall I posted a photo of a Downy Woodpecker on my dying birch tree. I’ve just done two Downy paintings along with a few other local birds. Once the old caboose is moved away, I’m afraid that old birch has to be taken down so it doesn’t fall on my house. I’ll miss seeing the woodpeckers. This is acrylic on a 10×10 canvas.

Last fall I posted a photo of a Downy Woodpecker on my dying birch tree. I’ve just done two Downy paintings along with a few other local birds. Once the old caboose is moved away, I’m afraid that old birch has to be taken down so it doesn’t fall on my house. I’ll miss seeing the woodpeckers. This is acrylic on a 10×10 canvas.