Bird Illustrations Commission

Bird Illustrations Commission

In 2025, I created a series of four commissioned bird illustrations featuring a rooster, a fantail, a kea, and the extinct Haast’s eagle. I drew each bird by hand in fine black pen, then scanned and digitally refined the artwork for stone etching.

I started with detailed pen drawings to capture the distinctive form and feather texture of each bird. After scanning the originals, I carefully vectorised them, blending the organic quality of the hand-drawn lines with the precision required for digital design. Because the illustrations would be etched into stone, I developed two versions of each piece – the full, detailed drawings and simplified, high-contrast versions tailored for engraving.

This project brought together traditional illustration and modern digital craftsmanship, resulting in artwork that feels both handmade and technically refined.