Barnaby Blue is cropped so close that half his face runs right off the edge of the canvas. One clear blue eye looks sideways at you, a spiky crest of feathers stands straight up, and a long golden-yellow beak sweeps down and curls at the tip. The mottled silver-gray background keeps all the attention on that blue.

Painted by hand in acrylic, this is the most portrait-like piece in my bird series — less cartoon, more character study. The brushwork in the feathers is loose and directional, so up close you can see exactly how he was built.

That tall, narrow 10 × 20 canvas is made for the awkward walls: beside a door, between windows, in an entry, or climbing a stairwell. He also makes a striking pair hung next to another bird from the flock, beak to beak.

• Size: 10 × 20 inches
• Medium: Acrylic on canvas
• Original: One of a kind, signed by artist
• Certificate of authenticity: A signed certificate of authenticity is included with your original
• Ready to hang — ships in 3–5 business days

Want more photos before Barnaby comes home? Just send me a message.

Every bird in this series traces back to my grandfather, Dave Coleman — a Seattle jazz drummer who painted birds his whole life. Read the story →