There is a sculptural beauty expressed in the graceful bodies of winged creatures. Stunning details include humanlike forelimbs that extend into wings, intricately patterned feathers and glorious beaks that convey regal elegance.
I experience a sense of the sublime when their wings slice the air and gently lift off, swept upward from below. They glide on breezes. It’s fascinating to imagine their evolution as descendants of dinosaurs.
Design in Nature
Although I see them daily, painting birds challenged my sense of perception and allowed me to see their unique coloring and distinctive textures. What was once invisible became apparent.
I noticed plumage that extended like waves, forming a regular hexagonal pattern. A streamlined body that resembles a teardrop reduces air resistance during flying. Tail feathers include large feathers that function as rudder and brakes. Wing feathers expand as they flap and soar during bird flight.
Ravens
Ravens have a chunky, Roman-nose, inky-colored feet and a wedge-shaped tail. Their feathers are completely black with a purplish tinge. Cultures from Tibet to Greece have seen the raven as messengers to the spirit world. These intelligent and mischievous birds represent transformation and spiritual rebirth.
Robins
The robin is associated with spring and new beginnings. Native American tribes associated its brick red breast with the rising sun and its black-tipped yellow beak with the sun. If these songbirds appear in your life, they are a sign to believe in yourself and to follow your true path.
Web of Life
Feathered beings are an intrinsic part of the balance of nature and a link between humankind and other worlds. I consider them emissaries, as did Emily Dickinson, who wrote that hope “is a thing with feathers / That perches in the soul.”