A strange bird

For centuries in some cultures, certain birds, most notably cranes, are held above all that is earthly and considered god-like. In Tibetan culture for instance, cranes are thought to be reincarnated ancestors. They are allowed to wander where they please and even eat what little food may be around (kind of like cows in Hindu culture...and rats in the Middle East). Cranes hold a similar symbolic significance in Japan, where they often appear in mythology and art representing peace. It is evident that Egyptians also worshipped certain birds as they often appear as symbols in their alphabet, the crane or heron being associated with longevity as well as spirit (see below).

In the wetlands of North America, the Great Blue Heron is a symbol of a healthy ecosystem. Wetlands are hotbeds of biodiversity and when heron exist, it means nothing is contaminated (as herons eat fish, fish eat smaller fish and bugs, ect.). I'm not a bird-watcher, but it's pretty cool to see a heron. See them walking in the distance and you can easily picture how a dinosaur might have roamed around.

My poster art is a sort of tribute to the Blue Heron and biodiversity and is the culmination of over dozens of sketches and paintings. After not being able to capture a bold enough effect with paint, I decided to do most of it in Adobe Illustrator; however, I've attached a couple sketches below that show an original illustration and a sketch that most resembles the finish product.

Help preserve wetlands by contributing to local Sierra Club and Nature Conservancy chapters. These are no-bull organizations that put your money to good use.

(P.S. the cas:ev logo is something that evolved out of the poster)

Thanks for tuning in...

-J