Birds are a recurring theme in much of my work because I have always felt a strong attraction to them. Whether they are wild, domesticated, songbird, scavenger, or bird of prey makes no difference to me. I love them all!
I have long felt that birds are the perfect symbol for freedom and creative expression. To be able to fly and spread joy through song makes them a perfect accompaniment to my portraits of empowered women.
In my painting, In Pursuit of Dreams, I used barn swallows because historically they have been used to symbolize luck and good omens. In some cultures, they are believed to carry souls into the sky. For this reason, they are the birds I currently use most in my portraits. Whether fully rendered or in silhouette, they are both symbolic and easily recognized.
In Pursuit of Dreams was inspired by the energetic flight patterns of barn swallows over an open field. They are the perfect representation of letting your dreams take you where they will. I used bold, saturated colors for this painting as a means to move the eye around the composition and create a feeling of energy and purpose. I hope they will encourage you to follow your dreams.