In a special ongoing series, the Medical Illustration & Animation Sourcebook is proud to highlight recent projects from Joan Thomson.
“Seldom Seen Birds of Grafton County” is the second featured project in the series.
View the first project here: “Native Orchids of New Hampshire”
Cedar waxwings on winterberry
Project: Seldom Seen Birds of Grafton County
From the artist: “Though I have drawn birds on and off throughout my life as a student and illustrator, this project of watercolor paintings of birds in their surroundings probably began when a friend requested a painting from a photograph she had taken of a visiting snowy owl. This snowy owl showed up somewhere in Massachusetts, and I confess I have not seen or heard of one in Grafton County, NH, where I live, though I have heard of numerous sightings of the snowy owl in New York and New England since then. Emboldened by the success of this painting, more recently, probably since about 2020, I have painted several more paintings of birds in their natural surroundings. So far most have been birds that I remember seeing locally, some not recently.
Bird migration patterns have been changing due to climate change over the past few years, and there are many endangered species. Some are not often seen because they stay in the tree tops. Some of the paintings of these beautiful creatures are painted out of nostalgia and a wistful hope that bringing them into our consciousness may in some way inspire us as humans to protect and revive the species that are threatened and endangered. As I continue this journey, I usually depict both the male and female of the species, often showing a contrast in the plumages of male and female.“
Black-throated blue warblers
Grossbeak
Belted Kingfisher
Joan Thomson is an artist and educator based in Canaan, New Hampshire. Originally from New York State, she holds a BFA from Syracuse University and an MA in Education from the University of Kentucky. Her career spans illustration and teaching, including 19 years as a medical illustrator at Dartmouth Medical School. Deeply inspired by nature, Joan has volunteered with the New England Wildflower Society, now called the Native Plant Trust, and for years was active in the Cardigan Mountain Art Association. Joan has recently taught English to Speakers of other Languages, often weaving in her passion for the natural world. Now she is planning on a return to an art focus with illustration and may also teach some drawing and watercolor classes.
