When I first encountered Altamira Orioles at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas, their brilliant orange-and-black plumage seemed almost luminous against the surrounding vegetation. They were among the birds that made the refuge feel both distinctly Texan and unmistakably tropical.

In Santa Ana Flame, I portrayed two orioles together, using graphite to establish structure and layered colored pencil to capture the intensity of their plumage. The title refers both to their flame-like coloration and to the place where they first made such a strong impression on me.

The drawing reflects the excitement of encountering an extraordinary bird in the wild and the importance of conserving the habitats that allow such species to persist.