Ask a Grackle: Has Anyone Ever Painted You?

Dear Grackle,

I find your yellow eyes and dramatic feathers enchanting — has anyone ever painted you?

Yours,

Art appreciator

Dear Appreciator,

IT SHOULD COME AS A SURPRISE TO NO ONE THAT I HAVE A LONG TRACK RECORD AS A MUSE. ALLOW ME TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU ALL AN ART HISTORY LESSON AND SHOW OFF SOME OF MY MORE FLATTERING PORTRAYALS!

HERE IN TEXAS I’VE HAD MANY ADMIRERS, INCLUDED ACCLAIMED ARTIST SCOTT GENTLING, WHO USED GRAPHITE AND WATERCOLOR TO CREATE THIS STUNNING RENDERING OF FOUR GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES SITTING RESPLENDENT IN A FALL TREE. SCOTT AND HIS TWIN BROTHER STUART WROTE AND ILLUSTRATED THE 2001 BOOK OF BIRDS AND TEXAS, AND PRODUCED MANY AMAZING BIRD IMAGES. THIS ONE, I HAVE TO SAY, IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BY FAR!

ANOTHER TEXAS FAN IS AUSTIN-BASED ARTIST CARLY WEAVER, WHOSE LUMINOUS PAINTINGS OF GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES ON WOOD PANELS ARE QUITE STRIKING. “I STARTED PAINTING GRACKLES BECAUSE THEY WERE INVADING IN MY BACKYARD,” WRITES WEAVER. “I TRIED EVERYTHING TO MAKE THE PESTS STOP EATING MY DOGS' FOOD AND POOPING ON THE DECK. SO I EMBRACED THEM THROUGH OIL PAINTING.” A HATER TURNED FAN — I LOVE IT!

ON THE SOUTHERN END OF MY RANGE, I CAPTURED THE HEART OF COLOMBIAN ARTIST ENRIQUE GRAU. I’M QUITE POPULAR IN COLOMBIA, AND THERE ARE MORE THAN A FEW STATUES AND MONUMENTS TO ME. I’M PARTIAL TO THIS PORTRAYAL BY GRAU IN HIS CHARCOAL WORK BANDADA/FLOCK. IT REALLY CAPTURES MY VIBE, DON’T YOU THINK?

YOURS,  
Grackle