"The Fisher Queen" - Original Watercolor

Original watercolor painting created with fine Daniel Smith watercolors on Saunders Waterford heavy 100% cotton rag. Both the paints and paper are archival, ensuring this piece will last a lifetime and beyond with proper framing. Dimensions are 11"x14". Painted in August 2026.

Kingfishers are considered sacred birds in several cultures across the world. As one of my favorite birds, this is unsurprising as there’s a whole lot to love about them. They are loud, proud, and impossible to miss when you find yourself near virtually any body of water. Here in the Pacific Northwest our single Kingfisher species is the Belted Kingfisher. Here I’ve painted a female, easy to identify due to her striking belt of rufous-colored feathers across her breast. These birds can easily be seen perched on posts, snags, or low branches in or at the edge of ponds, creeks, lakes, and estuaries as they patiently wait for the chance to dive into the water to catch small fish. Kingfishers are excellent hunters, and while their diet is mainly fish they will also catch tadpoles, insects, small lizards, and sometimes even go for berries. They are raucous and charismatic and very punk rock with their spiky head crest of dark dusty blue feathers.

Species featured are a Black Cottonwood branch, female Belted Kingfisher, and young Coho Salmon.