Watercolors of birds. There are more bird drawings in the Field Sketches and Antarctica section, too.
Watercolor
The little storm petrels (also known as Mother Carey's Chickens, I don't know why, whalers were weird; and Bailarinas in Spanish, because they look like little dancers when they dip into the water) are found all over the world but I really noticed them in the Antarctic.
These small birds have an unusual way of feeding in that they gather in flocks at the surface of the water and spend a lot of time fluttering at the surface. Every once in a while, one will suddenly dive down and resurface with something to eat. Often they're after krill, but sometimes, you'll see them at the same spot on the open ocean over and over again. Sometimes, as in this case, it's because there is a dead whale below the waters, and whale oil is burbling up to the surface. The little birds dip down and eat the oil as it bubbles up.
Some of my best memories are of going out with the whalers, as we called the cetacean researchers, and the buggers, as we called the entomologists, and watching these little birds flit pass icebergs and drop into the water. Logan Palin, a cetacean researcher, was one of my favorite people down there, and he took a bunch of photos of these petrels that I used for reference in this painting.
Watercolor
Watercolor, casein, gouache
Watercolor, Original in the collection of Walker Berg, Portland Oregon
Watercolor, gouache
Watercolor
Watercolor
Watercolor
Graphite on vellum
Watercolor, gouache, walnut ink, rock salt
Watercolor
Watercolor
Watercolor
Botanical illustrations in a variety of media by Terri Nelson
Another test of the limited palette achievable when using only the 8 new colors from Daniel Smith watercolors for 2017.
Done originally to test out the new Daniel Smith watercolors for 2017.
Blood Oranges on a turquoise plate - watercolor
watercolor.
Watercolor, digital, etc. full-color paintings of various mammals by Terri Nelson.
watercolor. Painting in the collection of Renee Krulich, Seattle, Washington.
This was client work done for Minnow Beats Whale Productions/Pacific Northwest Stories, the people who do the Black Tapes and TANIS podcasts. RABBITS is a new series from them about a mysterious game that bleeds over into real life, causing people to become obsessed and in some cases to disappear entirely.
Japanese Snow Macaques, done in watercolor and gouache.
The 17 Year Periodic Cicada. A small edition of this was originally printed as a fund-raising effort for Trans Lifeline.
Flotsam and jetsam regarding my National Science Foundation grant to go to the South Pole peninsula in 2016. More can be found at my polar blog, polarsouth.com.
Drawn and painted while I was living in the Antarctic at at remote research station of only 42 other people.
Watercolor
Snowy Sheathbill pair who were living under the trash compactor room at Palmer Station, Antarctica (affectionately known as the "Mash and Grind"). Drawn during my time there in summer season of 2015-2016. Watercolor on paper
Drawn and painted while I was living in the Antarctic at Palmer Station, summer season 2016. Watercolor and pencil.
Drawn while I was living at Palmer Station, Antarctica. Watercolor, pencil and gouache.
Observed while I was out on a zodiac in the middle of the Antarctic sea. Drawn and painted while I was a grantee of the National Science Foundation, and living in the Antarctic. Watercolor.
Drawn and painted while I was living in Antarctica at Palmer Station, as a part of the National Science Foundation's Artists in the Antarctic grant.
Watercolor
Drawn and painted while I was living in the Antarctic at Palmer Station, as an artist grantee for the National Science Foundation.
Watercolor
Imaginary things
I designed this originally for a calendar that was sold at the Rose City Comic con in 2013, but they liked it so much that it was turned into a tshirt that year, as well. Levi Hastings took my line work and did a slogan over the top that said "IT CAME FROM ROSE CITY" in classic horror comic script, and it was printed with a single spot color (the Kraken was red).
Field sketches are my notes, in drawing form. This means they're not "finished" and they often don't have backgrounds. They're often rough, and since they're drawn from living birds or animals. I may never get to finish a full drawing before the animal moves or hides. I do some in the wild, often on vacation trips, and some at aquariums and zoos. Nothing ever holds still for long enough.
Pen and ink drawings, lithographs, intaglio prints, etc., in black and white by Terri Nelson
This was fun. They wanted a murder wall and a rabbit, drawn in the line style reminiscent of Tenniel's drawings for Alice In Wonderland. For RABBITS, a Pacific Northwest Stories/Minnow Beats Whale podcast that USA Today called "twisted and compelling."
Graphite on vellum
Drawings with people in them, usually for book, magazine, or spot illustration purposes, by Terri Nelson
Different architectural details and landscapes featuring buildings that I've drawn for a variety of projects.
For a pop-up book sent to the head of the NBA by the Portland Trailblazers in 2017.
For a pop-up book sent to the head of the NBA by the Portland Trailblazers in 2017.
For a pop-up book sent to the head of the NBA by the Portland Trailblazers in 2017.
For a pop-up book sent to the head of the NBA by the Portland Trailblazers in 2017.
For a pop-up book sent to the head of the NBA by the Portland Trailblazers in 2017.
Drawings done for the Portland Opera, off-Broadway shows at the Keller Auditorium, plays, etc. Often done during live dress rehearsals while I was sitting in the dark.
I take photos for reference and for fun. Sometimes they turn out well. Here are a few of my favorites.
The two barn swallows you see here were designed for a biologist I lived on an ice breaker with when coming back from the Antarctic.
Swallows are traditional sailor's tattoos and he wanted one with the Big Dipper, for his time spent living aboard ships above the equator, and one with the Southern Cross for his time spent in the Southern Hemisphere.
These are Branson's tattoos. I will be happy to take a commission to draw you your own unique design, but please don't take these. You don't want to be walking around with a tattoo that somebody else already has, anyway.
I just inked and colored this. She designed it. I kind of love it.
Designed for Brian Tamm, the best cook in the Antarctic. This is the rather inelegant nickname for the Snowy Sheathbill, a bird found at Palmer Station.
