My Tucson Arizona garden is simply bursting with these glorious hummingbirds. With their beautiful palette of iridescent blues and greens and their gorgeous red-orange bills, these little birds are unmistakable. I am fortunate to watch them sip from aloe blooms and firecracker flowers nearly every morning as I sip my coffee over breakfast. I am certain they will inspire many more paintings to come. This is, in fact, the second time I have explored this particular species within the context of this series.

Most bodies of work help to suggest the next body of work, and such is the case here with the “Pinnacle” paintings. My 2016 show at Astoria Fine Art, A Different Animal, also included a body of work called “Ornaments,” which featured a variety of birds interacting with or perching on golden baubles. In the Pinnacle series, those baubles have evolved into exaggerated plinths terminating in delicate perches for hummingbirds. As with the Ornaments, the use of precious metal leaf compliments the jewel-like quality of the birds. It’s worth pointing out that the strong sense of verticality as well as the tension, balance, and poise essential to these pieces is also an outgrowth of the Totem series.