These two southern pigeons are found in the US only at the southern limits of Florida and Texas. Any birder who has visited those areas, or aspires to visit, will know of them. Unlike the familiar city pigeon these are scarce and wary, hiding in treetops and seen mainly in flight and that, combined with their limited range, was the reason for an extra challenge when painting these. In the late 1990s when these paintings were done there were very few photographs of White-crowned Pigeon, and essentially no photographs of Red-billed Pigeon that I could use for reference, so I had to rely entirely on my own sketches and memories.
About the Sibley Guides Artwork
These paintings were originally created between 1994 and 1999 and published in the “Sibley Guide to Birds“, in 2000. Much of the same artwork was used in the “Sibley Field Guides” to Eastern Birds and to Western Birds, published in 2003. A few of these images were used along with new artwork in the “Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior” in 2001.
Between 2012 and 2013, most of the artwork was touched up, and some received major revisions, for the second edition of the “Sibley Guide to Birds” published in 2014, and the second editions of the Eastern and Western guides, published in 2016. All of this artwork continues to be used in the Sibley Birds app, with further revisions.
The medium is gouache and pencil on Bristol Board. You can read more about my gouache painting technique in two posts following the process of painting a Ferruginous Hawk and a Northern Saw-whet Owl. These are archival materials and should last hundreds of years with proper care. Most of the original paintings are on sheets about 14 inches wide and 23 inches high, although some use only part of a sheet. New paintings added in the second edition (2014) are on sheets 15 inches wide by 20 inches high.
On each plate you will see small penciled numbers next to each image. These were added by the publisher in 2013 to aid in identifying each image after scanning. Erasing will never completely remove them and is not recommended. Think of them as part of the story of this artwork – as one of the building blocks of a book.
The painting was not signed when this scan was made, but it will be signed by me before shipping.
This art is sold in a protective plastic sleeve, not matted or framed.
A small set of paintings has been selected and is being offered for sale now. Others are available, so if you have an interest in a particular species feel free to inquire. I anticipate offering more original sheets in the coming years.
General info
Warranty – I understand that no digital image can truly convey the look and feel of a piece of original art, and that you take a leap of faith by buying art you’ve only seen through the website. If the artwork you receive is not what you expected, or is unsatisfactory for any reason, simply contact me and return it in its original condition for a full refund.
Payment is through PayPal. If you are not a PayPal member you can still use any major credit card through the PayPal portal, which is easy and secure. If you’re a Massachusetts resident you will see sales tax added to your order.
Shipping is included, and will be insured with signature required for delivery, usually via UPS. Please allow 7-10 days for packing and shipping to the continental US. If you need something quickly, or internationally, or have any other questions about shipping, please contact me.
