55th Annual Society of Animal Artists Exhibit begins today!

"Through the Shoals" © Beatrice Bork

August 28: The Grand Opening and Premiere of the Society of Animal Artists Exhibit begins today at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, NY. 

I am, unfortunately, not able to attend the opening of what is always a wonderful event! But am most pleased to have my painting "Through the Shoals" selected for inclusion among this prestigious group of international animal artists' work in such a wonderful venue.

This piece represents so much of the last ten years of my life; starting with the Don Eckelberry Award, from the Society of Animal Artists (SAA), sponsoring my first of many visits to Trinidad & Tobago (home and inspiration of these lovely flamingos), to years later, when these same birds took on additional symbolism for me after successful breast cancer treatment — with their pink ribbon-like necks — to the present, having this painting exhibiting with group that started off this emotional, wonderful, crazy, life affirming, ten year roller coaster ride.

March 2014

"Jumbie Bird" © Beatrice Bork

If you haven't been to Artists' Gallery in the Lambertville, NJ, and are in the area, please stop in. There's always an artist there to assist and answer questions, as it is an artist-run gallery. Each month we change the exhibits with different features, so there's always something new to see!

This month the watercolor paintings I have on display are: Wood Thrush on the Rocks, Jumbie Bird, Feathered, Golden Eagle, RUN!, Barnside, and Romeo.  I also have a selection of limited editions prints available.

Jumbie Bird, is a painting inspired during one of my visits to Trinidad. The ferruginous pygmy owl is a small bird with a call that's easy to detect. We heard him and called him over (by mimicking) where I was then able to get some research photos and see him moving about in the trees. My goal for this painting was to emphasize its mystery, and wanted a "folk-lure/story-book" feel to the piece.

Happy New Year!

"Twist" watercolor © Beatrice Bork

On this very, very cold day, my mind drifts to warmer climates, and one of my favorite locations is Trinidad, specifically at Asa Wright Nature Center. "Twist" was inspired by the Monkey Ladder Vine and those wonderful little birds white-bearded manakins. This bird is great fun to watch and listen for, it keeps a clean floor, and does a fascinating dance to get a female's attention. (what's not to like about that!) "Twist" is one of the paintings currently on display at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville, NJ.

Still

"Still" watercolor © Beatrice Bork

I'm pleased to present a new painting of a Caribbean/American Flamingo. (Either Caribbean or American is acceptable, latin: Phoenicopterus ruber).  Keeping with the significance of the flamingo as a symbolic image to me personally, the title is "Still". 

Artists for Conservation

"Waylay in the Mango Tree" © Beatrice Bork

I was excited to find out yesterday, that my watercolor painting "Waylay in the Mango Tree" was selected by jury for the Artists for Conservation 2013 exhibit in Vancouver Canada. The AFC's festival will be September 28 – October 6, 2013 at Grouse Mountain Resort. Art selected will have a portion of its sale go to a conservation group of the artists choice. I'm hoping the show has many sales, as there are many great groups that will benefit! My group of choice is the Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad (West Indies). This is a place that has grown very dear to me since I first visited in 2005, through being a recipient of the Don Eckelberry Award. I have been several times since. The subject here is a bananaquit, which is fairly common on the islands, but still fascinating to watch.

update on Asa Wright Nature Center

After I finished posting my blog this morning, I was sent another article. The quarry has stopped production—for now. Here is the article from the Trinidad Express.

They're looking into the "visually intrusive mining" They've been "directed" to replant the area that can be seen from the Nature Center.  So I guess seeing it changed everything? 

Asa Wright Nature Center

Seven years ago I went to Trinidad for the first time. It was a magical place and my eyes opened to the diversities of this wonderful place. It was an opportunity that my love of creating paintings featuring birds afforded me. The Don Eckelberry Award, through the Society of Animal Artists, provided me with travel and 10 days at the Asa Wright Nature Center. I had a great time and in many ways it changed my life. I was sad to read an article the other day about how a quarry is now inching it's way closer and closer to the Nature Center. While I have been to Trinidad and Tobago a few times since my first trip in 2005, I have not been to the nature center in a few years. I'm not sure what the ecological effects are and will be, but can not imagine that this is good. Don Eckelberry was a bird artist who was one of the people instrumental in creating the Asa Wright estate into a nature center. This is a struggle that is difficult as it pits economy with ecology, for my 2¢ I hope that Trinidad recognizes an ecological treasure can last far longer than a quarry—after the land is stripped there's really nothing left.

What we're 2 months into 2012 already?!

I'm a little behind on blogging, because I’ve been in Trinidad, and plainly just finally starting to catch-up. So, Happy Belated New Year everyone!

I began the year in Trinidad, really nice, beautiful, lush foliage, birds and wildlife, friendly people and nothing compares to the balmy warmth of a tropical island. I spent most of my time in Arima, with excursions to places a little more “wild”. I spent time in town and visiting the market—it’s a hussling bussling place with friendly people selling some really wonderful produce and other market items. I even took in a Carnival kick-off concert. (I have yet to be there for Carnival, I hear it’s spectacular, seeing it once might be nice).

Arima Market

Carnival Kick-off, Arima

I also spent a little time in the valley parallel to the Arima, in Lopinot. The birding isn’t quite as easy as sitting on the veranda at Asa Wright, but the area is lush and green and every sighting becomes even more of an accomplishment.

Rainforest near Lopinot

 It’s actually quite easy to bird nearly anywhere in Trinidad, they have over 400 species. Right in town I saw and heard several species from the house: Palm Tanagers, Kiskadees, Bananaquits, Bare-eyed Thrush, Tropical Mockingbirds, Tropical Wrens, Yellow Orioles, Pygmy Owls, Oropendula, Blue Tanangers, Ruddy Doves, Peppershrikes and more.

Bare-eyed Thrush

 So, the beginning of this year was as great as the end of last year, I’m a little low on paintings, but not short on ideas! I worked on several sketches and have yet more research for future paintings, not to mention a few other creations I’ve been contemplating and sketching closer to home.

Photos and Content © Beatrice Bork

New prints and book

I have spent the last week or so working on updating my website design as well as adding a few new prints and made the "Birds of Trinidad" book available through the shopping cart as well.

The newly listed Limited Edition Giclee prints are: Baby It's Cold Outside (Cardinal), Sweet Nectar (Bumble Bee), Charming (Green Frog), and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. (image shown above).

Happy Summer!

"Ruby-throated Hummingbird" Watercolor © Beatrice Bork

"Birds of Trinidad"

In 2004, I entered The Don Eckelberry Scholarship Award, to my delight, I won. This award provided me a wonderful opportunity to observe the birds at the Asa Wright Nature Center in Trinidad. At the time I did not know much about the island, but was excited to see what inspirations this new place might bring me.

During my first trip—as a matter of fact, the first few moments of daylight— I was blown away by the colors, sights and sounds of the diversity of birds, vegetation and other wildlife... so much so, that I have been back almost every year since.

One of the naturalists working at Asa Wright was Denise Etienne, she was most knowledgeable about where to see particular species and helped answer all my many questions. We became friends and it wasn't long before I found out that she was also a very gifted poet and soon after the idea for the book was born.

I am happy to announce that Denise and I have finally completed our book of poems and paintings, "Birds of Trinidad".

"A Collection of Paintings and Poems by Beatrice Bork and Denise Etienne, Birds of Trinidad" © 2011

Trinidad: part 3: People and Culture

Trinidad and Tobago are a twin island nation, being occupied by Spanish, French, English and by 1962 finally became an independent nation. It is very diverse culturally, with the majority of the people having an Indian or African ancestry. There is a wide variety of religion practiced here from Catholic to Hindu to Muslim to Rastafarian and more, although I'm sure there are differences in opinions, they seem to make it work. For more history and other info., click here.

I find the people here wonderful, most will greet you with a Good Morning, (or Good Day, Afternoon, Evening or Night, sometimes I get confused as to which occurs at what time). The language is English, with their own unique Caribbean twist, with a lovely melodic flow, easy to listen to. When speaking quickly I admit to not totally understanding, but the more I visit the easier it is. Click here for a link to a trini dictionary.

Trinidad is very well known for Carnival, and Calypso music, I am partial to Soca. I was pleased to see a steel pan performance on my recent trip as they were competing for the upcoming Carnival. It is said that steel pan originated in Trinidad, starting with African Drums, that were outlawed by the occupiers, then came "Tamboo bamboo" a sort of drum constructed with bamboo, then the steel drums made from barrels, and in time crafted into the beautiful musical instruments used today. Nothing is quite like steel pan!

Happy Carnival!

Photo of "Arima Allstars" at competition this year.