Welcome to

Flight and Feather

2

history of birds

history of birds

Well...now that you know a little more about the loooong history birds have had in Art, aren’t you even more inspired to make creations dedicated to them!? So much mystery, symbolism and magic that surround these winged creatures! You can see more images of birds in history on the Art History Pinterest board I made you.

Having a knowledge of how birds have been represented throughout history gives us a greater understanding of their significance in artistic expression and human connection.

We can now place birds in our artwork with more meaning and intention. Remember that at the core, art is about communication. It’s not just about creating something pleasing to the eye but rather it is an expression that is coming uniquely through you. It is a message to the rest of the world.

Therefore, I believe it is essential for artists to understand why they placed an object, person or creature into their compositions. There should be a why, a reason and an intention behind our creative decisions. Layers of meaning in our work create a richer, more personal expression of ourselves.

bird symbolism guide

I’ve included this brief summary of just some of the symbols and meaning associated with these birds. These interpretations can vary depending on culture and time period.

Which bird do you resonate with the most? How can you use these symbolic creatures in your own work?

For more info about bird symbols go to this here.

Okay...so now that we have examined the spiritual and symbolic nature of birds in Art...let’s move on to studying the physical attributes of this beloved animal.

Let's continue to feather study...