Where Feathers Come From
turkey feather
© Chris Maynard

Chris Maynard’s Creative Process

detail, Where Feathers Come From
© Chris Maynard

“Feathers,” artist Chris Maynard says, “represent life’s wonders.”

A trained biologist, Maynard knows a lot about birds and their feathers. He can tell you everything from the structure of feathers to the patterns of bird migration.

Turning to Art

Although he studied the sciences, Maynard grew up around art. And his artist mother was very careful not to squelch her son’s creativity. When his mom passed away in 2008, Maynard had a life-changing “Oh, I see” moment. He decided to turn away from his science career to the art she had taught him to love.

Now, he says “I feel like I’ve come home.”

Maynard’s dad was influential on his son’s work as well. His dad was an eye surgeon who did technical, detailed work. Maynard remembers his dad wearing the thick magnifying lenses he now uses. He also relies on his dad’s surgery scissors and forceps to do his own detailed work.

Chris Maynard, wearing his father’s magnifying glasses.
© Chris Maynard

Focus on Feathers

While still a biologist, Maynard loved to photograph feathers. When he shifted his full-time attention to art, he kept his focus on them. Now he uses a creative process influenced by his deep appreciation for the wondrous science behind feathers.

“Feathers are curved, so naturally they don’t get pasted flat on a piece of paper. I do three-dimensional sculpture rather than two-dimensional pieces. The feathers get pulled away from the paper, and, as a result, shadows became a natural part of my art,” Maynard explains.

Reflection
matched pair, Great Argus pheasant feathers
© Chris Maynard

detail, Reflection
© Chris Maynard

He also is intrigued with the patterns and colors. “A bird’s feathers will grow so that they are almost exactly mirror images on each side. It’s kind of a mystery how they match so well.”

The patterns and colors are highlighted in the delicate bird shapes he trims from the feather shafts. “Cutting feathers makes them richer for most of us, so I can say different things with them,” he shares.

Staying Together

Knowing that Maynard’s meticulous cuttings are made of feathers, you have to wonder how his pieces stay together.

To explain, Maynard first describes how a feather is made. “Each feather is made of a shaft and a bunch of barbs that come off the shaft.  Like tree branches. Each branch, or barb, has more branches coming off of it.  On a feather these smaller branches are called barbules. Each barbule has a grabby claw hook which grasps others.  That’s what keeps a feather together and flat. Without them, birds couldn’t fly. It’s like Velcro. And they can come apart and zip back together again.”

Maynard relies on the barbules to keep his cut pieces together as well.

Even so, the shape of his cuts may break the connections sometimes. So he uses backing material in certain places to keep the form in place.

Blackbirds
European crow feathers
© Chris Maynard

Capturing Motion and Sound

Maynard’s cut feather art ripples with motion and sound.

“I like to capture sound, if I can, in an image because sound is over time, not like an instant art image. If someone can imagine the sound, the image might last longer,” he explains.

Singing Bird 14
pigeon and parrot feathers
© Chris Maynard

His work also captures the motion of the birds in flight or the gentle movement of water around them.

Ibis 1
Impeyan pheasant tail feathers
© Chris Maynard

Getting Materials

Since it illegal to have certain kinds of feathers, Maynard is careful in his collections. He gathers feathers from aviaries, bird owners, zoos, and even his own pet pheasants. Once, a woman sent him a huge bag of feathers her mother had collected over 22 years from their pet parakeet.

Kingfisher 2
blue and gold macaw and parakeet feathers
© Chris Maynard

Rewards

Maynard clearly loves his creative process as much as he loves the wonders of a feather. He loves to share what he knows about birds and feathers. And he especially loves when people find feathers as beautiful as he does.

Peacock Attraction
India blue peacock feathers
© Chris Maynard

detail, Peacock Attraction
© Chris Maynard

“Sharing life’s wonders with people, having it hit a chord with people, is satisfying,” Maynard says. “If people see feathers in new ways and then go out and see birds in new ways, I feel like I’ve been successful.”

Oh, I see life’s wonders in new ways!

In addition to his online gallery, Maynard’s work can be seen at the Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Day of the many dead
© Janine Boylan

Community Building in Chalk Art

Turning a corner in busy San Antonio, Texas, and Oh, I see! The once-drab sidewalks are filled in with colorful patches of art.

At this chalk art festival and others like it worldwide, professional artists, school-aged children, and other community members find common ground by working side by side and filling the sidewalks with glorious colors and designs.

Chalk brings them together.
Image courtesy of Artpace, San Antonio, by Francisco Cortes

Most observers step carefully between and around the art to both appreciate it and not ruin it.

But sometimes the art is too tempting, and people just have to be part of it.

So, inspired by the art, they grab a stick and add their own mark.

Adding his mark.
© Janine Boylan

Art History

Over the past few decades, chalk art festivals have been slowly spreading across the world.

Long ago, in the 16th century, street artists in Italy popularized the medium. Since they often copied religious symbols, they became known as i Madonnari. Traveling from city to city and creating their inspiring art on the dirty streets, i Madonnari relied on the public for donations.

The devastation of World War II slowed the artistry for a time, but in the 1970s, the talented artists at the International Street Painting Festival in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy, repopularized the art form. The Santa Barbara Mission is credited with starting the chalk art community festival trend in the United States.

Different themes naturally arise from the various festivals—like this pointy boot inspired by its Texas surroundings.

La bota picuda by Rigoberto Luna
© Janine Boylan

Community Festivals

Part of the allure of the chalk festival is watching the art unfold in an unpredictable setting. Chalk art is as much about the process and the place as it is about the picture.

Artists can’t control where the sidewalk cracks are. The weather could turn at any moment from sun to rain. It could be scorching hot or hand-numbing cold.

Some artists come prepared with careful plans; others let the ideas tumble out of their chalk sticks.

And all of this happens in front of an appreciative, often inquisitive, audience.

Tommy Hopkins
Image courtesy of Artpace San Antonio, by Todd Johnson

Dust to Dust

Chalk art’s life span is destined to be short. Merchants may spray the art away immediately, or it might get slowly carried away on the soles of passers-by.

Alex Rubio’s alluring design gets carried off.
© Janine Boylan

But in the short time of the festival, the community of professional, amateur, and spur-of-the-moment artists found common ground and perhaps a little inspiration in a bit of chalk.

This Nightmare will be washed away before Christmas.
© Janine Boylan

Chalk art festivals happen year round, world-wide. The International Street Painting Society posts a schedule on their Web site so you an find one near you. 

Image courtesy of Artpace, San Antonio, by Xelina Flores-Chasnoff

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.