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My Week in Birds - June 2026, week 1

My Week in Birds - June 2026, week 1

by Bridget Farmer in Studio Blog
Has it been raining where you are?

Everyone is going around my town saying ‘what awful weather!’ but I quite like this wet, drizzly dullness. It’s changing the colours of the bush, making me see it with new eyes. The blue greys are more silvery, the greens more vibrant. And I love feeling all cosy inside my studio or next to the wood-burning stove in the kitchen. I’m definitely a winter girl!

I’ve decided to try and send a short, blog-type mailout once a week entitled My Week In Birds. It’ll cover in just a few words (and most likely a picture) the birds influencing me each week, what I’ve been making and any newness about to happen.

Dip in when you feel like it for a 3-minute read over a cup of tea!

The Pink Eared Ducks

artwork of pink-earred ducks
Last weekend, I headed off to Baldessin Studio in St Andrews (in the bush on the other side of Melbourne) to learn plate lithography with artist Chris Ingham. It’s such a magical and mysterious process, which I think I’ve now just about grasped the concept of, it’s a tricky one to get your head around!

My muses were these pink-eared ducks that I met in Werribee a few months ago. They have such gorgeous facial markings, and that flash of pink is just stunning!

You can see my video of the weekend and the lithography process over on my instagram.


The King Parrots

Drawing of King Parrots
While I was in St Andrews I spotted a pair of king parrots acrobatically ambling along the fine branches of a gum tree. It was World Parrot Day last Sunday (31st May) so I took a few photos and drew them for a post to acknowledge these wonderful birds and create awareness for parrots worldwide!


The Superb Fairywren

Etching of a superb fairywren
A new mini etching finally (it’s been a while!)
I have a long running series called "Female Of The Species" where I entitle the piece without saying it’s the female.

Everyone recognises the bold coloured males, which the species are often named after, but the little brown females are much harder to recognise and remember.


Happy bird noticing!

Bridget's signature and another pink-earred duck


 

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Bridget lives and works on Dja Dja Wurrung country in the town of Guildford next to the Big Tree.

My team and I acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung as the traditional caretakers of the land and waters on which we live and work. We respect and acknowledge their elders, past and present.

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