Belted Kingfisher - Original Watercolor Painting

I grew up on a horse farm in Ohio in a household that valued art. My father is an architect, so I began drawing with him as soon as I could hold a drawing tool in my hand. My mom is also creative so I never really stood a chance - art is in my blood! My love of art is balanced by my interest in nature and conservation. I have lived throughout the United States working on biological field projects. Now a biologist/environmental educator by day, artist by night, I get a lot of my inspiration for my artwork from nature, my travels, and my experiences as a biologist. I have recently started to pursue art more seriously as a career. I feel art is a powerful tool toward conservation of our natural resources. I aim in my work to showcase the beauty that is all around, often under-appreciated and ignored. My media of choice are watercolor and ink. I have worked in oil and acrylic, but to me nothing matches the challenge of using watercolor in a very controlled way to achieve a look that is uncontrolled and impetuous.