Red Headed Tanager in the Secret Garden is the spark that set the entire Up in the Trees series into motion. Inspired one afternoon while sitting on a café patio with an affogato and journal in hand, I watched birds flit in and out of the hidden pockets of a nearby tree. That small glimpse of a world hidden within the leaves — unseen but full of life —captivated me and stirred my imagination.
In the end this is one of only 2 paintings where I set out to capture the original idea from that day. As with all of the other works in this series, this painting was begun en plein air and finished over time in my studio, harnessing that sweet blend of nature and imagination. The end result is rich, vibrant and dreamy.
A perfect piece for bird lovers, collectors of botanical art, and anyone drawn to artwork that captures both nature’s beauty and its hidden mysteries.