{"id":16543,"title":"Who Wears The Crown?","description":"The research and inspiration behind the illustration and gentle reference of the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher","content":"

\"\"Introduction<\/strong><\/p>

When I began what has become known as Birds Can Fly in the dark days of what seems to be an unending pandemic, I was using my own drawing skills and love of ornithology to create little illustrations of birds to share online, with a mission to ease our collective minds. As the project evolved and I began to \u2018gently reference\u2019 my drawings, I saw an opportunity to explore and understand ornithology in a new way.\u00a0<\/p>

During the early days of the pandemic I was working at speed often drawing a bird a day, rushing around my flat searching for something that resembled my avian subject, slapping on make-up, documenting myself, editing myself, creating merchandise, all within 24 hours. With some emotional space and distance, I now believe I was experiencing a mild sense of panic, perhaps even hysteria, many of us were at the very least \u2018out of sorts\u2019. I was busily distracting myself from what seemed like the end of the world. A world us humans, as a race, seem not to care that much about.\u00a0<\/p>

As 2022 emerged I reflected on this strange body of work and I have come to the undeniable conclusion that my speed and eagerness may have diminished the impact of each piece, a flash on your phone screen of my most recent drawing and \u2018gentle reference\u2019 may have distracted you from your own sense of gloom, though how much time did you spend with each piece? And how satisfying is it to look at on your phone anyway? Often as soon as I posted a carefully crafted drawing and portrait, someone would ask \u201cwhat\u2019s next?\u201d, and \u201chave you done a robin yet?\u201d I would laugh and get right on it, barely giving myself time to breathe. I do not for a moment judge those that engaged, I think we were all in a bit of a daze. I do appreciate that many of you have purchased prints<\/a> and sat with my work and perhaps reflected on it more than I, that is a wonderful, magical thing, and I\u2019m incredibly grateful for those of you that have entered my peculiar world.\u00a0<\/p>

Though as the producer of Birds Can Fly I think I must slow down. Henceforth, I am committed to spending more quality time with each bird subject, their legacy, context and environment. I believe that this will give each drawing and \u2018gentle reference\u2019 the weight and heft my art work deserves - I write that last sentence deliberately, with what may seem like arrogance. Perhaps it is, though as artists we are often asked to do this favour or that for the crack or the clout. I am no longer allowing that to happen.\u00a0<\/p>

The Crown<\/strong>\"\"
And so this brings me to my most recent drawing and gentle reference. I have spent not hours or days, but weeks on this particular work. I decided to give this avian subject some well deserved quality time and consideration. Perhaps it is the name of this particular bird that demanded such reverence, though from now, this is how I will operate.\u00a0\"\"
Amazonian Royal Flycatcher, <\/em>photo from Reddit.<\/em><\/a><\/p>

A friend shared an image of this bird with me a while ago, I dismissed it as too much of a challenge. Months later I felt able to engage. I was inspired by watching a film. The Green Knight, directed by David Lowery, starring Dev Patel in the leading role, an epic tale of a knight on a quest, the film is ethereal and mysterious, though the costumes are what inspired me. \"\"
Dev Patel in The Green Knight, Poster designed by <\/em>BOND.<\/em><\/a> - Costume by <\/em>Malgosia Turzanska<\/em><\/a><\/p>

The crowns worn by the royal members of the story were spectacular, I adored the metallic halos that framed the face of the wearer and seemed to refer to gold leaf icon paintings I\u2019ve always loved. I remembered the Royal Flycatcher and saw a connection, so I began, unusually with the costume. The structure of the crown with the \u2018halo\u2019 lent itself to the spectacular crown of feathers of this miraculous bird, creating a version of this felt like an obvious thing to do, and with the royal name it would make sense for my portrait to be as regal as possible.\u00a0\"\"
Mosaic of\u00a0<\/em>Christ Pantocrator<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>Hagia Sophia<\/em><\/a><\/p>

My usual process is to draw the bird, though this time I needed to know if the crown would work. I began by creating the base for a crown out of papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9, using cardboard for the base, funnily enough from an Amazon package. Every school child knows how to create papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9, so the process was familiar and nostalgic, over days I built up layers to create the bulk, layer on layer of paper and glue. I then began the paint effects, using the image of the crown from the film poster as reference, I added layers of paint and glue, gold leaf, eye shadow and varnish, rubbing metallic powders into the hardening surface. It went from looking tacky to old, to new again, I created the patina with water colour paint, mixed with varnish. I attached a \u2018halo\u2019 cut from the frame of a sieve, I covered it in more card and papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9 and added the same metallic paint effects. The \u2018feathers\u2019 would be card, to combine the look of the plumage with the metal of the crown, the combination designed to echo the feathers of the bird.\u00a0

The final portrait would need to be a step towards the bird not a pastiche of it. As I formed the damp crown around the shape my own head I was amused and amazed at how much it looked like the crown I was inspired by.\u00a0\"\"
The crown itself has become a piece of work, a relic of a gentle reference, I look at it as I write this. As it came together I watched interviews<\/a> with David Lowery to learn more about the making of the film and the costumes, I was fascinated to learn that the costume designer, Malgosia Turzanska<\/a> had been inspired by South American cultures who in turn were inspired by birds resembling the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher, and so the loop of inspiration continues. \"\"
Tembe warriors in Brazil, photos by Rodrigo Abd\/AP as featured in <\/em>The Guardian<\/em><\/a><\/p>

When the crown was complete I began scouring local charity shops for additional accoutrements. The chain with over-sized links would evoke the regal cloaks and with the addition of items from my wardrobe the look was almost complete. I grew a bit of a beard to appear more regal and with orange and blue eye make up I was ready for the portrait. As ever I take the photo myself, setting the self timer and running into shot, composing myself as the shutter clicks. A long and complex method I intend to improve upon. The final image was inspired by the artwork from The Green Knight, I wanted to appear to be in an environment that resembled a royal court and an Amazonian jungle, as ever, this is when my Photoshop skills come to the fore. And so the gentle reference was complete.<\/p>

\"\"
The final drawing and gentle reference.<\/em><\/p>

The Amazonian Royal Flycatcher<\/strong>\"\"The final illustration of the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher<\/em><\/p>

Throughout, my illustrations have been formed by referencing multiple photographs and videos of my subject, I combine these images to create the final drawing taking a head from one photo and a wing from another. This method has served me well, though for this bird I felt I wanted to connect more. I had been contacted by Steph Holt from the Natural History Museum in the early days of Birds Can Fly regarding a potential interview about my work. I reached out again asking if she knew if I could explore the collections of the Natural History Museum to access an actual specimen of an Amazonian Royal Flycatcher. I discovered that the Natural History Museum in Tring held a vast ornithological collection and was delighted that they had several specimens of the flycatcher I was able to draw from and photograph. \"\"
A study of the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher at the <\/em>Natural History Museum, Tring.<\/em><\/a><\/p>

I made my way to Tring to meet Alex Bond who would show me around the collection. My childhood self was elated to delve into the draws and draws of birds discovered over the last few hundred years. They have 95% of the 11,000 species of bird discovered from around the world. Each specimen is labelled and identified with a paper tag and placed in categories in draws lining corridor upon corridor. Each bird rests in state, in what are called skins, their soft parts removed with cotton wadding retaining their shape. The collection is accessible upon application by writers, academics, scientists and luckily for me, artists.\u00a0\"\"
The draw of 'skins' at the <\/em>Natural History Museum, Tring.<\/em><\/a><\/p>

Once I had filled out the necessary forms and identified myself formally I was left alone with a draw filled with specimens, I was permitted to gently handle the delicate echo of these birds that once flew through the Amazonian jungle. It was a breathtaking experience, haunting, emotional and a total privilege.\u00a0\"\"
The 'skin' of the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher at the <\/em>Natural History Museum, Tring.<\/em><\/a><\/p>

I drew, sketched and explored the nature of this wonderful bird examining their size, hue and texture, I settled on one, and connected to it in a totally different way from using a screen as reference. The actual feathers were directly in front of me and I was even able to gently hold the bird in my hand. As I gazed upon my preferred example I realised that it was catalogued exactly one hundred years ago in 1922, an eerie moment of reflection on the last one hundred years. What seemed like minutes later, it was time to go.\"\"
The final drawing before the colour is added digitally.<\/em><\/p>

Colonialism and Ornithology<\/strong><\/p>

Since I began Birds Can Fly I\u2019ve been interested in how the birds that surround us have been named, nomenclature is the term that refers to this process and I have been slowly learning about the complexity of this area. What struck me especially about the so-called Amazonian Royal Flycatcher is that it\u2019s European common name is probably in reference to the western crown, hence my own exploration and depiction of it.\u00a0 Though I began to wonder what the indigenous populations called this bird. Unsurprisingly perhaps the indigenous tribes often lived in small groups and had specific languages, each tribe may have referred to this bird with a different name or may not even have given the bird a name at all. My initial research revealed\u00a0very little information about these lost common names of this bird of the Amazon. The people I spoke with at Tring confirmed that many of these names may be lost forever.\u00a0<\/p>

Most of the white European explorers during the eighteenth century embarked on a mission to name and categorise each bird using the Linnean<\/a> taxonomical method. They often disregarded the indigenous population trampling their land and traditions believing the populations that had spent centuries living in synch with nature as \u2018savages\u2019. These explorers took the specimens they wanted and returned them to the museums we love.<\/p>

This history must be understood in order to appreciate the cost of the knowledge we have gained. As man continues to pillage the world of its resources we must, I believe, be more sensitive to the complexity of human history, a history that goes beyond the one I learned about at school. The wealth that built our museums and the vast collections that fill them was made possible by slavery, and the abuse of the populations and environments we encountered around the world in our mission to colonise and categorise the 'new' world. The Victorian age was largely responsible for the aesthetic and appreciation of the collections I had the privilege of accessing at Tring. My own limited understanding of ornithology and the names of birds I grew up with were created in this atmosphere of \u2018acceptable\u2019 destruction.<\/p>

As an artist what do I do with this? I believe that my work must help tell the story. In this piece the human protagonist (me), is pictured as a saintly king like figure, looking to a hopeful future from the dark history of the jungle, the location that white Europeans and their descendants have almost destroyed, my portrait pays homage to the bird in a European style that echoes the depictions of royalty we\u2019re familiar with. The confluence of my style as a queer man in make up is intended to subtly subvert the nature of the \u2018heroic straight white male explorer\u2019, my intersectionality intended to question the conventions of masculinity and the heteronormative society we live in.\"\"
My detailed drawing of the bird reveals my love of it, my intention is to honour and esteem the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher. I want to heighten the viewers awareness of the plight of this particular bird and the environment it lives in, the Amazonian jungle is rapidly decreasing in size, thanks to Europeans and their descendants despite campaigns and awareness we continue to decimate our precious rain forests.<\/p>

Art for me is intended to ask questions about the society we find ourselves in. I don\u2019t have the answers or the solutions, my intention with Birds Can Fly is to spark interest in the history of ornithology and those that defined it in the past, perhaps as my research continues I will be able to shed new light on the lost history of the birds we treasure.\u00a0<\/p>

A special thanks to Steph Holt<\/strong> and Alex Bond<\/strong> from the Natural History Museum for their support and openness.<\/p>

Interested in learning with me? I'm currently reading 'Naming Nature' by Carol Kaesuk Yoon<\/a>. It's a fascinating exploration into the history of how humans understand the natural world.\"\"
<\/p>

\"\"
A new T-shirt celebrating this drawing part of the Bird Lover range, explore it here.<\/a><\/p>","urlTitle":"who-wears-the-crown","url":"\/blog\/who-wears-the-crown\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/who-wears-the-crown\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/birdscanflystore.com\/blog\/who-wears-the-crown\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1644765762,"updatedAt":1708450357,"publishedAt":1708450356,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":107566,"name":"Birds Can Fly"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/pidqnyuzs9gpydlgbr1gxihqlewesduczdd80kx0yuv699rh.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/pidqnyuzs9gpydlgbr1gxihqlewesduczdd80kx0yuv699rh.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/pidqnyuzs9gpydlgbr1gxihqlewesduczdd80kx0yuv699rh.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Who Wears The Crown?","metaDescription":"The research and inspiration behind the illustration and gentle reference of the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":17815,"title":"Still Queering Britain","url":"\/blog\/queer-britain\/","urlTitle":"queer-britain","division":107566,"description":"Queer Britain the first LGBTQ+ Museum in the UK and reflections on the 2nd Madame F Queer Britain Art Award.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/zsfcqawoqnpg1c1izfaajahhxfppyjgguxab7loum4nk19th.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/zsfcqawoqnpg1c1izfaajahhxfppyjgguxab7loum4nk19th.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":23512,"title":"2022 REVIEWED","url":"\/blog\/2022-reviewed\/","urlTitle":"2022-reviewed","division":107566,"description":"A look back at some highlights from 2022, from books, blooms and birds.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/tucgiho26afmyfdfcgypmswh82vdnvm3wmcwmnp0jz8fk83h.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/tucgiho26afmyfdfcgypmswh82vdnvm3wmcwmnp0jz8fk83h.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":43027,"title":"A Fish Out of Water - Postcard from Naxos","url":"\/blog\/postcard-from-naxos\/","urlTitle":"postcard-from-naxos","division":107566,"description":"Delving into the deep, a marine themed illustration and gentle reference.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/yjuhwvmwsiemh05qc5qo49inr7wipq6arrojx4pf9kz2b85v.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/yjuhwvmwsiemh05qc5qo49inr7wipq6arrojx4pf9kz2b85v.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}