Those who admire and study birds will already be aware of the world of ornithological illustration. This is a highly focused area of drawing and/or painting for artists with an interest in following in the footsteps of one of the most famous bird artists of the 19th-century: John James Audubon. The times certainly have changed since Audubon established this field, as have the tactics for ornithological reference gathering, but accurate, well-designed, and aesthetically pleasing illustrated bird life in all mediums are much sought-after by book publishers and research organizations worldwide. Ornithological illustrators can also spread their wings into licensing, advertising, postage stamps, and scientific art, as well as into the limited-edition print market.
Cirl Bunting Field Sketches, Devon UK © 2014 Mike Langman
Plate 51 in The Ecotraveler’s Wildlife Guide- Alaska © 2001 Academic Press / John Sill
Ducks © 2014 Garden and Gun Magazine / Jack Unruh