"The smallest things carry the most wonder, if only we take a moment to look."
— Laura
By early August, the hummingbirds have settled into their summer rhythm.
They arrive each morning before I've finished my first cup of coffee — darting between the crocosmia, butterfly bush and bee balm with that particular urgency that only hummingbirds seem to possess. One will pause mid-air just long enough to catch my eye, then vanish again in a flash of green and copper.
These small encounters have been quietly filling my sketchbook all summer long, and I'm so happy to finally share where they've led.
Hummingbirds of the Kootenays
This summer collection began exactly where so much of my work begins — in the garden, usually early in the morning, watching something small and extraordinary stop me in my tracks.
Four of the five hummingbirds in this collection have visited my own Creston garden. Together, these tiny, jewel-bright personalities inspired months of sketching, studying and painting.
I've spent time looking closely at wing shapes and tail feathers, playing with colour and trying to capture not only how these little birds look, but something of how they feel when we encounter them.
The paintings combine watercolour and ink, with touches of acrylic marker here and there when a feather or flash of colour needs to sing.
Here they are — my five Kootenay jewels.
Rufous — Fearless • Resilient
The little firebrand. With his fiery copper-orange colouring and bold personality, the Rufous seems remarkably unaware of his tiny size. I've watched these determined little birds defend a favourite feeder or patch of flowers with tremendous enthusiasm.
Black-chinned — Quiet • Graceful
At first glance, he's one of the more understated of the five. Then the light catches the violet band beneath his dark throat and everything changes. A lovely reminder that sometimes the most beautiful details reveal themselves slowly.
Calliope — Tiny • Determined
The smallest hummingbird in North America, with delicate streaks of magenta fanning from the male's throat. Such a tiny bird to undertake such an extraordinary migration — proof, perhaps, that size has very little to do with determination.
Broad-tailed — Gentle • Joyful
Often heard before he's seen, thanks to the distinctive musical trill of the male's wings. With his rosy throat and shimmering green feathers, he seems perfectly suited to summer gardens and mountain wildflowers.
Anna's — Radiant • Curious
And then there's Anna's, with that remarkable rose-magenta head that can appear almost dark until it catches the light. Turn the right way and suddenly — brilliance.
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Painting the Light
One of the things I've been reminded of while painting this collection is just how elusive hummingbird colour can be.
A throat that appears almost black one moment can flash violet, ruby or magenta with the slightest turn toward the light. No two encounters are quite the same.
I wasn't interested in making exact copies of my reference photographs. Instead, I wanted each painting to capture a little of that changing colour — and the feeling of seeing one of these tiny birds suddenly light up in the garden.
Watercolour seemed especially suited to that. Sometimes I allowed the colours to wander a little beyond what I could see in the photograph, exaggerating a violet, turquoise or rose where it helped capture the spirit of the bird.
From Sketchbook to Art Print
Eventually, all of those sketches, observations and experiments with colour came together in Hummingbirds of the Kootenays, my new 11 × 14 art print.
The poster brings all five hummingbirds together, accompanied by two little words I chose to capture something of the character of each bird.
Tiny Wings • Endless Wonder
Inspired by the gardens and wild places of the Kootenays, it's a celebration of the remarkable little birds that bring so much life and colour to our summer days.
Explore the Hummingbirds of the Kootenays Art Print →
And Then There Were Five More...
Of course, once I'd finished the poster, I wasn't quite ready to stop painting hummingbirds. 🌿
Over the past few weeks I've been back at my studio table, creating five new individual watercolour paintings — one for each species.
And once again, no two are exactly alike.
Each developed its own subtle differences in colour, expression and detail, much like the birds themselves.
These five little paintings will soon become a new series of 5 × 7 greeting cards — small pieces of art to send, keep or tuck into a frame.
I'll be introducing each one over the coming weeks!
A Little More Summer
There is something especially lovely about hummingbirds at this time of year.
Summer is beginning its slow turn toward September, the garden is wonderfully abundant, and these tiny visitors are making the most of every bloom. Before too long, many will begin their remarkable journey south.
Perhaps that's what makes these August mornings feel particularly precious.
For now, I'm happy to linger a little longer — coffee in hand — watching for that familiar flash between the flowers and listening for the unmistakable hum of tiny wings.
From the Studio 🌿
Thank you for following along as this collection has grown from garden observations and sketchbook pages into finished paintings.
If you've welcomed hummingbirds into your own garden this summer, I'd love to know who's been visiting. Leave me a note in the comments below.
Hummingbirds of the Kootenays Poster Print is available in the studio shop now, with the five-card collection fluttering in very soon.
Visit the Hummingbird Collection →
Until next time,
Laura 💖
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