Orange-Breasted Sunbirds and Pincushion Protea Original Painting

Anthobaphes violacea and Leucospermum cordifolium

Colored pencil on Duralene, 2006

20 x 17.5” framed; archival matboard, blonde wood frame

This piece was inspired by visits to the UCSC arboretum, where I wandered among the African and Australian flora and wondered who pollinated these marvelous flowers. A bit of research revealed that small, brightly-colored sunbirds were among the pincushion’s native pollinators, and the male’s iridescent plumage was such a treat to draw.