Sandhill Cranes

Commissioned by Free Range for the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, this watercolor and graphite piece portrays a tender Sandhill Crane family at their nest. The artwork is rooted in the cranes' natural history, utilizing pure minerals like azurite, hematite, and orange ochre to mirror their environment. In a direct tribute to the birds' behavior of staining their feathers with iron-rich soil for camouflage, paint made from local iron oxide was used. This material-driven approach creates a literal and tactile connection between the cranes and the earth they inhabit.