LITERATURE OF THE BIRDS

Classic literature is still something that hangs in the air like a song.

G.K. Chesterton

The covers of all the books that will hang as "literatura de cordel" in the library of the birds and insects are pochoir prints.  The prints of leaves will not blend into the drawing of the owls when they are attached to it,  but they will have a relationship by virtue of their subject matter.  Leaves are either printed directly on some books while others are cut and pasted on the covers.  

Each of the books contains a quote appropriate to the species featured - in human language. The main text is either in musical notations by F. Schuyler Mathews (published in 1904 and still referred to today) or language found in field guides and written in the Roman alphabet. 

OWL ANTHOLOGY:

Five owls are featured in the anthology.  All are drawn with micron pens and and photocopied.

The eyes of four of the birds are hand colored. The Barred Owl, which has dark eyes, has a bit of highlighting to its feathers,  also done with color pencil.

WARBLER:
Four warblers and their songs are featured in this book.  All are depicted in watercolor and color pencil then  reproduced with high quality inkjet prints and tipped in.

WREN:

Three wrens and their songs are depicted in watercolor with some color pencil and metallic gold acrylic in the background.  They are reproduced with high quality inkjet and tipped onto the pages.

This book is dedicated to Hetsy (Henrietta) Slote.

THRUSH:
In a pochoir print done with watercolor and metallic acrylic, a Hermit Thrush sings to a
Wood Thrush.  This illustration is an original print, not a reproduction.

SONG SPARROW:
This book contains a single species of sparrow - the Song Sparrow.  It is in tribute to Margaret Morse Nice whose study of the bird was a great contribution to ornithology.
The illustration is an original pochoir done with watercolor.  The inside of the cover is marbleized paper and is a reference to the water of the Olentangy River which flowed by Mrs. Nice's property in Columbus, Ohio.  The photograph behind the sparrow was taken of trees where she did her work next to the river.