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A Royal Bevy

royal, adjective, \ ̍r ȯ I(-ə)l\

1a: of kingly ancestry

1b: of, relating to the crown

bevy, noun, \̍be-vē\

1: a large group or collection

2: a group of animals and especially quail

Merriam Webster

As unlikely as it seems, my bird series started with a collection of cherished, vintage picture frames. I acquired them by combing through flea markets, garage sales, and dumps. Given their size and shape, the frames presumably held portraits, perhaps of loved ones, or well-respected ancestors. They imparted dignity and respect; they conveyed affluence and prosperity. At one time, they were valuable and might have given a certain status to the homeowners whose walls they adorned. I found them totally abandoned, forlorn. I wanted to reuse my frames to confer those same properties onto new images. My questions were . . . What images were worthy of these noble frames? What portraits would be stately, commanding dignity and respect? Birds immediately came to mind. They are beautiful, regal creatures. About the same time, I found some old scratchboard lying around my studio. I knew it could be used to produce striking, graphic images with intricate line work. It would be useful in depicting beaks and feathers alike. I scratched feverishly for many months making an assortment of birds, then crowned them adding a touch of royalty. Now framed, they number almost thirty. Those old, empty picture frames now hold a whole bevy of birds, a Royal Bevy. The original bevy was exhibited with Annika Lindfor's graphite drawings in Into the Woods at the Dana L. Wiley Gallery in Dayton, Ohio from October through December 2020.

2020

American Monarch

33" x 26"

Scratchboard with collage

in vintage frame

Barbara-Martin_AMERICAN-MONARCH.jpg

2020

A Parroting of Sorts - SOLD

29" x 35"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

BarbaraMartin-Artwork_Macau.jpg

2020

Noble Sage

25" x 29"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

BarbaraMartin-Artwork_SpectacledOwl.jpg

2020

Nicobar Pigeon with Whimsical

Hackles and Crown

22 1/2" x 19"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

Barbara-Martin_NICOBAR-PIGEON 1.jpg

2020

Resting on Her Laurels

19 3/4" diameter

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

BarbaraMartin-Artwork_Resting-on-Her-Lau

2020

Royal Flycatcher

16 1/4" x 14 1/2"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

Royal Flycatcher.jpg

2020

King Crow

18" x 21"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

BarbaraMartin-Artwork_KingCrow.jpg

2020

Mourning Majesty SOLD

11 1/2" x 13"

Scratchboard in vintage frame

Mourning Majesty.jpg

2019

Emblematic

24" diameter

Scratchboard in vintage

clock frame

Emblematic received a merit award

from Stella's Art Gallery,

Mentor, Ohio

January, 2020

BarbaraMartin-Artwork_Emblematic.jpg

2020

Three Blue Eggs in a Nest

with a Feather

16 1/2" x 10 3/4"

Scratchboard with collage

in clock box door

three blue eggs in a nest with feather.j

2020

Which Came First?

14 " x 7 1/2"

Scratchboard with collage

in clock box door

Which Came First.jpg

2020

A Prosperous Time Is Near

14" x  5/8"

Scratchboard with collage

in clock box door

BarbaraMartin-Artwork_Egret 1.jpg

2020

Osprey with Egg

14 1/2" x 7 1/2"

Scratchboard with collage

in clock box door

BarbaraMartin-Artwork_Osprey-with-Egg.jp

2020

Cooper's Hawk

14 " x 7 1/2"

Scratchboard with collage

in clock box door

Barbara-Martin_NICOBAR-PIGEON 3.jpg

2020

Intuitive Ruler

25" x 21"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

Intuitive Ruler Oval Frame.jpg

2020

Paramount Paraclete - SOLD

22" x 25"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

BarbaraMartin-Artwork_Paramount-Paraklee

2020

His Majesty the Heron

23 1/2" x 27 1/2"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

Barbara-Martin_BLUE-HERON.jpg
His Majesty the Heron (detail).jpg

2020

The Warbler's Royal Serenade

23 1/4" x 15"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

BarbaraMartin-Artwork_WarblersSerenede.j

2020

Prince Pie

23 1/4" x 15"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

Prince Pie.jpg

2020

Lanky Countess

29" x 13 3/4"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

Untitled Flamingo.jpg

2020

Two Royal Magpies SOLD

29" x 13 3/4"

Scratchboard with collage and grasses in molded glass frame

Two Royal Magpies.jpg

2020

The Vesper Sparrow SOLD

11" diameter

Scratchboard with collage in round clock frame

Vesper Sparrow.jpg

2020

Untitled European Goldfinch

14 1/4" x 9 1/2"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage brass frame

Untitled European Goldfinch.jpg

2020

Song Thrush I SOLD

14 1/4" x 12"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

Song Thrush I.jpg

2020

The Archer of Snakes

15 1/2" x 17 1/2"

Scratchboard in vintage frame

Barbara-Martin_SECRETARY-BIRD.jpg

2020

Song Thrush II SOLD

13 1/2" x 11 3/8"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

Song Thrush II.jpg

2019

Precious Titmouse SOLD

8 1/4" x 11 1/8"

Scratchboard in vintage frame

Precious Titmouse.jpg

2020

Starling Starlet

10 1/4" x 12 3/8"

Scratchboard with collage in vintage frame

Starling Starlet.jpg

Prices available upon request.

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