Painting is for the Birds

January, 2025
by Tara Morton, class of 2017

Bows for Birds - Audubon Center at Riverlands

I was so excited to see the new birds chosen for this year’s Bows for Birds - an annual winter scavenger hunt hosted by Audubon Center at Riverlands. This is my third year volunteering as the artist that makes & paints wooden cutouts of birds that get dispersed to area parks, for families to search for while out and about. My excitement came from the fact that this would be my first time painting an owl (my favorite bird) - specifically a Short-Eared Owl.

In-process look at painting

This is my favorite volunteer activity each year, since I get to use my unique set of skills to draw, cut out in wood, sand, prime, paint and shellac these full-sized creations. I was even more excited to learn that my Short-Eared Owl creation, displayed at Audubon Center, fooled another volunteer when he found it in the scope and thought it was the real thing!

I start off by printing photos provided by Audubon Center. This can be tricky with bigger birds, as I usually have to print several pages then piece them together. After that, I draw them out on scrap hardwoods or 3/4” plywood from my shop. I cut out using a jigsaw or bandsaw, sand, and then lay a primer base to get started.

I played around and kept the owl pretty loose in painting style, which I really enjoyed. I usually just scrounge together old house paints, samples, and acrylics from around the house and do my best to color-match against a photograph after laying a foundation of solid colors.

Finished!

The other birds chosen this year include the Red-Breasted Merganser, Golden-Crowned Kinglet, and the American Goldfinch with winter plumage, which you can see below.

All four new birds this year!

Bows for Birds has ended for the season as of February 2, 2025, but be sure to look out next year!