Description: This is my acrylic painting of a great grey owl in a forest with its sharp gaze fixed forward. It is the world’s largest species of owl by length. They also have the largest facial disc of any raptor. It has large piercing yellow eyes. It lives in the forests across North America. It is the provincial bird of Manitoba, Canada.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a vibrant pygmy nuthatch climbing a textured tree trunk. The background features soft, cloudy skies. This tiny songbird is native to western North America. They have a short square tail and straight sharp bill. They move quickly and nimbly on the tree and branches of trees using a unique foot structure that allows it to travel in any direction.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a vibrant ringed kingfisher perches against a soft sky overlooking the lake. Its detailed feathers contrast with the gentle cloud pattern. This noisy bird can be found in Southeastern Texas at the Rio Grande through Central America and to Tierra del Fuego in South America. They have a white collar and straight bills that are longer than their heads. They are known for their “tomail serrations” that act like teeth to grip slippery fish.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a vibrant Costa’s hummingbird in the desert flowers. Its wings are spread wide showcasing the iridescent green and purple feathers. I used pearlescent paint to add highlights to the shiny iridescent parts of the feathers. Bright purple feathers drape the throat of the male, like an overgrown mustache. These birds favor areas with abundant flowers in the desert washes, dry chaparral, scrub and arid brushy foothills. This bird painting is included in the bird playing card game called “Chirp Up”.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a grey heron standing elegantly at the water’s edge in the reeds at the lake. The serene setting features blue ripples on the water and gentle grass tufts. These birds are found in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. They breed in colonies and usually build their nests high in trees. They have been featured on coats of arms, stamps and in historical archives.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a majestic gyrfalcon with detailed plumage that is perched on a wooden post watching over the arctic tundra for prey. The background features a serene landscape with shades of blue. They have exceptionally keen eyesight to find prey like ptarmigan and arctic hares with powerful dives or blows from their talons. Gyrfalcons are the world’s largest falcons. They are highly valued as a hunting companion. They symbolize power, royalty and freedom in Iceland sagas and mythology. It is the national bird of Iceland.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of two arctic terns gazing out to the ocean at the rocky shore of the tundra coast. The sky and sea are painted in vibrant blues, contrasting with the birds’ soft feathers. These birds are found in the arctic and sub-arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. They are strongly migratory. The travel up to 90,000 miles annually between the Arctic and Antarctic. They are found on the postage stamps of Canada, Finland, and Iceland. This bird painting is included in the bird playing card game called “Chirp Up”.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a vibrant male kalij pheasant in a dense thicket. Its detailed feathers and lively colors create a dynamic scene. These birds are found in forests and thickets in the Himalayan foothills, from Nepal, Pakistan to western Thailand. The females are overall brownish. They are known for complex social behaviors.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a white-crested helmetshrike in the African savanna. It is also known as the white helmetshrike. This is a social bird with a big crest on its head and piercing yellow eye and eye-wattle. The background is a warm, muted shade accentuating the bird’s features.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a diamond fire-tailed finch in the woodlands. This small stocky bird is one of the largest finches of Australia. They are very distinctive with a black breast-band on a white breast. The flanks are black with white spots and it has a scarlet rump, hence the name. The background features a textured, earthy brown tone, enhancing the birds bright colors.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a common loon with a baby loon riding on its back as it gracefully swims across a shimmering green lake. The detailed plumage highlights their natural beauty. This behavior is called ‘piggy-backing”, which helps keep the baby warm, conserve energy and protect them from predators. Loons are excellent divers and swimmers underwater. It is the state bird of Minnesota and provincial bird of Ontario. This bird painting is included in the bird playing card game called “Chirp Up”.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a vibrant green pigeon in a forest. The background features a textured, neutral palette, highlighting the bird’s vivid hues. These birds from Asia and Africa are remarkable for their green plumage. Their colors come from a pigment found in their diet of fruits, primarily figs, in wild habitats. They also eat nuts and seeds. Their green plumage provides excellent camouflage helping them to blend into the foliage of trees to avoid predators.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a Javan green magpie in the dense forest. The background is a lush green forest, enhancing the bird’s vivid colors. This type of bird is in the crow family and located on the island of Western Java and Indonesia. This bird faces significant conservation challenges due to its popularity in the illegal pet trade. They have an extensive vocabulary.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a Wyandotte hen chicken with intricate feather details is on the nest laying eggs. The realistic depiction gives life to the scene. I was inspired to paint this hen from the many times as a boy I helped my grandma gather eggs and help with her chickens on the farm. The Wyandotte chicken is raised for both its brown eggs and its yellow-skinned meat. It has many color variants. It is a popular show bird that is docile, friendly and good egg layers.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a Boreal chickadee perched gracefully on a bare branch in the winter forest. The bird’s plumage is delicately detailed against a muted winter backdrop. These little birds in the tit family live in the boreal forests of Alaska, Canada and far northern United States. They are known for their high-pitched calls used in communications with other birds.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a vibrantly colorful Venezuelan troupial bird on a cactus at sunset. This is the national bird of Venezuela. It is found in Columbia, Venezuela and some Caribbean islands. They are known for being a powerful nest pirate that steals the nests of other birds rather than building their own. The term troupial is French from troupe or troop so named as they live in flocks.
Description: This is my acrylic painting study of banded penguins facing each other against a clear blue sky. The scene captures their distinctive black and white markings in detail. They are also known as “jack-ass penguins” due to their loud locator calls sounding similar to a donkey braying. They live in temperate coastal habitats along the shores of South America, Africa and the Galapagos Islands. They have a highly coordinated hunting technique, where they work together in teams to herd fish into a bait ball, a strategy unique among penguins.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a toucan deep in a tropical rainforest on a black canvas. These birds are known for their large, bright, and colorful bill. They are among the world’s noisiest birds. These popular colorful birds have been in advertising, cartoons and movies. A vibrant toucan with a striking orange beak perches on a branch surrounded by lush, green foliage and colorful flowers. The scene evokes a sense of tropical richness with its detailed depiction of nature. Toucans are found throughout Brazil. It’s colorful, oversize break stands out against the rich background, embodying the vivid diversity of Brazil’s wildlife.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of two wood duck drakes with vibrant plumage that glide gracefully across a calm, green body of water. Their reflections ripple slightly, merging beautifully within the hues around them. They may swim together to improve foraging efficiency and enhance predator detection. This is my 1,000th lifetime painting that I have completed since I started painting 50 years ago after High School graduation in 1975.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a tufted titmouse in the woods. This little songbird can show curiosity towards humans and sometimes perch on a window ledge, appearing to peering into the house. The name titmouse name comes from the Old English word “tit” meaning small. A small titmouse with a noticeable crest perches gracefully on a bare branch against a soft, muted background. The bird's plumage features shades of gray and white, with a touch of beige on its body, creating a harmonious and natural appearance.
Description: This is my drawing of the big question, why did the chicken cross the road? A majestic chicken struts confidently across a winding road set against a picturesque rural backdrop. Rolling hills, a rustic barn, and a windmill enhance the idyllic countryside scene under a sky adorned with fluffy clouds.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a burrowing owl family. This owl is also called the shoco, which is a small, long-legged owl. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated by prairie dogs. They have bright yellow eyes with prominate white eyebrows and a white chin. They are quite social and lives in groups. The earthy tones of the background create a warm, natural atmosphere.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of some pigeons sitting on The Thinker statue. The Thinker statue represent man’s contemplation and thought. Some days you will be the pigeon, going about your business and living a carefree existence, and other days you will be the statue getting pooped on by the pigeons. A contemplative statue sits on a tree stump surrounded by birds, with bird poop dripping from its surface. The setting includes a clear blue sky, suggesting a cold atmosphere.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a roseate spoonbill wading the shallow waters of the wetlands. It is known for its red eyes and long spoon-shaped bill. It has a pink color that is diet-derived like the American flamingo. Plume hunting in the 1800’s almost drove it to extinction. A roseate spoonbill bird with a distinctive long bill and pink-hued feathers stands gracefully in a body of water, casting a reflection on the turquoise surface. The serene setting captures the tranquil essence of a natural habitat.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of some violet-green swallows in the open woodland. Their long-pointed wings and slim, streamlined body evolved to catch insects while in flight. These aerial acrobats have slightly forked tails. A swallow with striking green and purple plumage perches on a branch, set against a muted background. Three additional birds soar in the sky, adding a sense of movement to the scene.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a toucan deep in a tropical rainforest on a black canvas. These birds are known for their large, bright, and colorful bill. They are among the world’s noisiest birds. These popular colorful birds have been in advertising, cartoons and movies. A vibrant toucan with a striking orange beak perches on a branch surrounded by lush, green foliage and colorful flowers. The scene evokes a sense of tropical richness with its detailed depiction of nature.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a stocky red-tailed hawk perched high in a tree looking for prey. It has been called a “chickenhawk”, though it rarely preys on chickens. Because they are easily trained as capable hunters, they are the most commonly captured hawks for falconry. Their feathers are considered sacred by Native Americans. The bird's detailed feathers and intense gaze add a sense of realism and depth.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a silky, shiny cedar waxwing perched in a tree. I was inspired to paint these beautiful birds after seeing them in person. Some of their wing feathers have red tips, the resemblance of which to sealing wax gives these birds their name. These birds love fruit. They occasionally become intoxicated or even die when they run across overripe berries that have started to ferment and produce alcohol. Detailed features and vibrant plumage highlight its striking presence in the natural setting.
Description: This is my acrylic painting on gray paper of some male American goldfinches in a sunflower field at sunrise. The male is vibrant yellow in the summer and olive color in the winter. Its brightly colored plumage during the breeding season is to attract a mate. These birds love sunflower seeds. I was inspired to paint these beautiful goldfinches after seeing some landing on the sunflowers of my garden to get the seeds. They will also feed the seeds to their young. This bird is the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa and Washington. Sunflowers dominate the foreground, providing perches for two bright yellow goldfinches, while a dramatic sunrise unfolds in the background. This bird painting is included in the card game called “Chirp Up."
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a vividly colored male painted bunting in a tree. The dark blue head, red rump, and green back plumage of the male only comes in the second year of life; in the first year they look similar to a female. These shy and secretive birds are in the cardinal family. The rich green background suggests a lush, natural environment, enhancing the bird's vivid colors.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of two rufous hummingbirds hoovering to get nectar from some flowers. I used a pearlescent paint for the iridescent shine on the feathers. They have a fast and darting flight with pinpoint maneuverability. These feisty birds will chase away other birds many times its size. Their delicate wings are caught mid-flight, creating a sense of movement and liveliness. This bird painting is included in the bird playing card game called “Chirp Up”.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a greater roadrunner in the desert at sundown. Predators of the roadrunner are raccoons, hawks, bobcats and of course, coyotes. This bird can outrace a human, kill a rattlesnake and thrive in the harsh desert. It is the state bird of New Mexico. These birds are in many Native American and Mexican myths and legends. A roadrunner struts through a desert landscape filled with cacti and distant mesas under a vibrant yellow sky. The scene captures the essence of the American Southwest with its distinctive flora and fauna.
Description: This is my acrylic painting of a brown pelican in the coastal waters. They feed by diving into the water and scooping fish with their expandable pouch. It is the state bird of Louisiana and the national bird of some countries in the Caribbean. I enjoy watching these birds while on vacation in the south. A pelican gracefully floats on calm, blue water beneath a partly cloudy sky. The bird's detailed feathers contrast with the smoothness of the surrounding ocean. This bird painting is included in the bird playing card game called “Chirp Up”.
About Matt Starr Fine Art
