This tiny dead bird is very nearly actual life size in this painting. The bird was picked up off the sidewalk below a storefront window in downtown Palmer, Alaska, and kept inside the artist's step van mobile studio in the cool late summer weather, while the artist intently worked on this painting. When at last the smell became too close to nauseating, the artist had done what he could to honor the lovely little creature and work ended. He placed the bird, now in advancing decay, into a place for ravens to continue nature's recycle work. / The artist cherishes this small painting. 'Why do you paint a dead bird, instead of a live one?' a friend asked. 'Because I can have the dead bird in front of me and examine him for days, a week, maybe more, but I cannot do that with a live one (of this species). And I do not wish to do an illustration -- as most bird paintings become,' the artist replied. / What a wonderful thing it is to see a bird up close, usually for the shortest fleeting instance! They are amazing and beautiful, more so than one would expect! If only he would stay, for hours and for days and weeks -- to allow an artist to draw and paint and resurrect him or her, but that's way too much to ask of a live bird. So...