🖤 Feline Femme: Meow-Mento Mori 🐈‍⬛

 

A Valentine for the dark at heart. "Meow-Mento Mori" explores the fragile chambers of affection on an anatomical heart panel.

Featuring a big-eyed Gothic femme with heavy, downturned kitty ears, this piece is a deep dive into Anatomical Affection. Her ice green-blue gaze carries the weight of "Vows in Ventricles," reminding us that love is both a biological beat and a spiritual longing. 🥀

Even in the afterlife, you’ll always have her heart.

✨ The Details ✨

Title: Meow-Mento Mori

Medium: Original oil painting on an anatomical heart panel (Baltic Birch).

Size: 5.5" x 8" (1/2" thick).

Features: A keyhole in the back for easy hanging—no frame or hardware required.

🏠 Availability: This original piece is available for adoption! Please DM me directly for details if you need a wistful big-eye kitty girl for your collection.

A heartbeat away... 🖤✨

 

I’ve spent the last few days lost in the shadows and silk of this new piece. "Meow-Mento Mori" is finally finding her soul on this beautiful anatomical heart panel.

There is something so haunting about the way her Gothic "Big Eye" style interacts with the organic shape of the wood. I’ve shared a close-up today—the curve of her kitty ear, the depth of an eye, and a hint of her lips. She perfectly captures that delicate balance between creepy and cute.

🎨 The Canvas: This oil painting is coming to life on a stunning 5.5" x 8 anatomical heart panel (Baltic Birch). It’s a substantial 1/2" thick and features a keyhole in the back for easy hanging—no frame required.

Finishing touches are happening in the studio now. I'm still working on her delicate eyelashes and the final highlights in those ice green-blue eyes.

The full reveal of this original oil painting arrives this Sunday, January 18th. Keep an eye on your feed—she’ll be looking for a heart to call home! 🐈‍⬛🖤

Day 15 of #Birbfest2026: The Endearing Expression 🦉🧡

 

Today we're looking at the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus).

This fluffy, feathered friend has the most charming face! Capturing his quixotic expression in graphite was a total joy. Those intense eyes and the soft framing of the feathers make him such a compelling subject. I think he would be a fantastic challenge to paint in the future—imagine all that texture in oils!

Day 14 of #Birbfest2026: A Stalwart Fluffball ✨

 

Today’s peek into the sketchbook features a study of the Silver-eared Mesia (Leiothrix argentauris).

When it comes to birds, I definitely have a "type"—and this round, stalwart fellow is exactly it! I really wanted to share him for the challenge, but I didn't want to rush his beautiful colors. I decided to capture his "chonky" silhouette in graphite for now, with every intention of bringing him to the easel for a full oil painting in the future.

Day 12 of #Birbfest2026: The Boreal Bonbon ❄️🍬

 

Field Notes: I’ve discovered a new species of winter candy. Characterized by its perfect roundness and vibrant crimson cap, the Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)—or as I call him, the Boreal Bonbon—is anything but quiet. 🕵️‍♂️

Don’t let the fluffy "chonker" physique fool you; this bird is roughly 90% fluff and 10% red-capped ambition. He has a very big voice and a lot of opinions about the current seed-to-snow ratio. This little sphere of spite and sweetness is officially the loudest thing in the woods!

✨ The Details ✨

Title: The Boreal Bonbon

Medium: Original oil painting on a cradled basswood panel.

Size: 4" x 4" square (7/8" depth).

Features: The edges feature the beautiful, natural unpainted wood of the panel.

🏠 Availability: This original piece is available for adoption! Please DM me directly for details if you need a little study in roundness that's demanding snacks for your walls.

Day 11 of #Birbfest2026: The Mountain Bluebird of Angst 💢

 

Don’t let the soft feathers fool you—this is "Cerulean Spite" in its purest form. This Mountain Bluebird is giving his best "Tiny Tempest" performance, emerging from his home with wings high and a heart full of Flurry and Fury.

He’s trying his hardest to be an intimidating guardian, but it’s difficult to stay scared of such a smol and scowling puff-ball! He is a true study in Altitude Adjustment.

✨ The Details ✨

Title: Cerulean Spite

Medium: Original oil painting on a cradled basswood panel.

Size: 4" x 4" square (7/8" depth).

Features: The background and edges feature the beautiful, natural unpainted wood of the panel, framing his "blue mood" perfectly.

🏠 Availability: This original piece is available for adoption! Please DM me directly for details if you need a little "grumpy blue" for your walls.

WIP: A Little Dark Romance for the New Year... 🖤✨

 

I'm currently working on a piece for Valentine’s Day titled "Meow-Mento Mori." She’s a Gothic, big-eye femme still finding her heart, but as you can see, the ears are already listening...

🎨 The Canvas: This oil painting is being brought to life on a stunning anatomical heart panel (Baltic Birch, 5.5" x 8"). It’s a substantial 1/2" thick and features a keyhole in the back for easy hanging—no frame required!

🖌️ The Process: Right now, I’ve established a deep purple flood for the background. I’m sharing the panel alongside my original lineart to show the "dark kawaii" direction this piece is heading.

Who else prefers a little "Creepy Cute" for their Valentine's decor? 🥀🐈‍⬛

Day 9 of #Birbfest2026: The Majestic Tail 🕊️✨

 

Today’s peek into the sketchbook features a study of the Indian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi).

I completely fell in love with the elegant, winding lines of this bird's long tail feathers! Capturing that sense of movement in graphite was such a meditative and joyful process.

My next #Birbfest share will be a "smol" painting of a Mountain Bluebird, coming your way on the 11th. I can’t wait to show you the color on that one!

The Tiny Despot has arrived! 🌈👑

 

Meet my take on the many-colored rush tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra). Despite the intimidating name, this rotund fellow is really just a Technicolor Tot ruling over the reeds.

I wanted to capture him as a "Painted Puffball"—the ultimate Marshmallow of the Marsh. He may be small, but in his own mind, he is the undisputed Rainbow Ruler of the wetlands! 

Created for Day 2 of #Birbfest2026, he’s my first completed reveal of the new year.

✨ Miniature Magic ✨This original oil painting is tucked into a vintage ornate frame for a truly regal, "pocket-sized" feel.

Art size: approx. 2.75" x 3.5"

Framed size: approx. 4" x 6"

🏠 Availability: This original framed painting is available for purchase! Please DM me directly for details if you'd like to add this Rainbow Ruler to your collection.

New Year, New Painting. ✨

 

Day 1 of 2026 and the brushes are already moving! I’m kicking off the year with a whimsical, "kawaii" bird WIP for #Birbfest2026. This month is all about keeping things low-pressure and high-joy.

My first subject is titled "The Tiny Despot"—a chibi-style version of the magnificent Many-colored Rush Tyrant. Currently, the sketch is transferred and the background is set. I’m letting the warm glow of the golden gesso serve as my underpainting for this rainbow-hued "roundling."

I can't wait to reveal this completed smol painting tomorrow!

What are you looking forward to creating or doing in 2026? 🥂