Whispers on the Wind: Birds Painted on Feathers

There’s something quietly magical about feathers — light as air, each one a natural brushstroke of design. They carry flight, freedom, and fragility. For my latest small series, I wanted to honour that spirit by painting directly onto them.

These miniature works feature some of my favourite birds: a barn owl, a kingfisher, a kookaburra, a mandarin duck, and a hummingbird — each brought to life using oil paint on real feathers. It’s delicate, intricate work that demands patience and care, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. The feathers seem to hum with a presence of their own, as if the birds might blink and take off at any moment.

Painting on feathers feels like a collaboration with nature. I don’t start with a blank canvas — I start with something that already has its own story. The curve of the shaft, the texture of the barbs — they guide the placement of each stroke. It’s not about control, but about working with the feather, allowing the bird to emerge organically.

• The barn owl watches from the dark with moon-bright eyes, a ghost of the forest edge.

• The kingfisher perches in electric blues, ready to dive.

• The kookaburra, all curiosity and laughter, brings a spark of the bush.

• The mandarin duck, regal in his plumage, floats in a quiet reverie.

• And the tiny hummingbird, painted on the smallest feathers of all, pulses with colour and energy — a flicker of movement made still.

Each piece is painted on sustainably sourced feathers, and every brushstroke is a celebration of the natural world. These are not just paintings — they’re tiny tributes to flight, to freedom, and to the beauty we can so easily overlook.

You can view more of my process and upcoming works on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and right here on my website.

Let me know which bird speaks to you the most, or if you’d love to see a favourite feathered friend make an appearance in a future piece.

With love and light,

Chelsea Anne