Dennis Witnauer
Painting and bird watching are similar activities, sharing the steps of observation, analysis and correction. They both also require a good amount of luck. As a portrait painter, I know that the chance placement of a single dab of paint can make a bigger difference in capturing the character of a person than the astute, incisive techniques of craftsmanship. As a bird watcher, I know that the fortune of being in the right place at the right time can open one’s eyes to the realization that there’s a fascinating world of bird behavior around us, always. Birds, like people, share typical behaviors, but they also display individual uniqueness. Careful observation of this can have great scientific value, but it can also just be a lot of fun. The birds depicted in these paintings are based on my observation of these behavioral displays. The decisions to use particular fabric backgrounds and the careful analysis and corrections of the portraits are simply a way of capturing that fleeting, exciting moment of being in the right place at the right time.
