Annie Shao Art
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annieshaoart.bsky.social
Annie Shao Art
@annieshaoart.bsky.social
2.5K followers 580 following 1.2K posts
Artist, birder, and PhD cell biologist in Minnesota.

https://linktr.ee/annieshao

she/her

No AI
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annieshaoart.bsky.social
Happy #Flyday! Today's #ArtAdventCalendar is my Tree Swallow drawing for Birdtober. Way back before I was a birdwatcher and I first learned they're a common bird where I live, I couldn't believe we had a bird with such beautiful color!

#BirdArt #SciArt #ArtYear #Copic #FineArt #AnimalArt #Art
Detailed marker illustration of a Tree Swallow in flight.
December 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
A new piece for #ArtAdventCalendar, Snow Globe Jellies (Modeeria rotunda) 🐙 🪼

#Watercolor on black paper.

I recently went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the deep sea exhibit was so mesmerizing. I'm curious as to why some had long tentacles vs short!

#SciArt #FineArt #ArtYear #AnimalArt

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Watercolor painting on black paper of two Snow Globe Jellies (Modeeria rotunda)
December 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
Continuing with upside down birds for #ArtAdventCalendar, a Pygmy Nuthatch for today!

#BirdArt #SciArt #ArtYear #Watercolor #FineArt #AnimalArt
Detailed watercolor painting of a pygmy nuthatch hanging upside down on a ponderosa pinecone.
December 3, 2025 at 1:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
A pair of White-winged Crossbills for #ArtAdventCalendar!

#BirdArt #SciArt #AnimalArt #ArtYear #Watercolor #FineArt
Detailed watercolor painting of male and female white-winged crossbills. The red and yellow birds are hanging upside down on tamarack branches with pinecones.
December 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
One of my favorite Monterey lifers, the Long-billed Curlew! I used my own photo for a reference, I was lucky enough to capture it after a successful hunt.

#BirdArt #SciArt #ArtYear #AnimalArt #Watercolor #FineArt

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Detailed watercolor painting of a Long-billed Curlew picking up a snail, with a sand beach in the background.
December 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
Experimenting with watercolor on black paper by painting a deep sea jelly I saw at Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's tricky because colors can look vastly different when dried, so it's a lot more go-with-the-flow than my usual work.

#SciArt #AnimalArt #snowglobejelly #ArtYear #WIP

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In-progress watercolor painting of a snowglobe jelly on black paper
November 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
Shop small businesses for Black Friday! Bird stickers and prints are available on my webstore. Score 15% off if you buy 5 or more items!

annieshaoart.myshopify.com

#BirdArt #SciArt #birdstickers #birdprints #BSNM #smallbusiness
Photo of all 23 of my Birdtober 2024 stickers
November 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! 🦃🥧

I haven't done any turkey art, but the closest thing I have is my Wyandotte Chicken from Birdtober. Which is ok because I'm cooking chicken instead of chicken for tonight anyway 😅

#BirdArt #SciArt #Copic #ArtYear #AnimalArt #FineArt
Detailed marker drawing of a Silver-laced Wyandotte Chicken.
November 27, 2025 at 5:53 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
Twin Cities friends, I will be a part of the Santa KAWS! Holiday Market at The Lodge of Lazarus Crowe in 2 weeks! You can get this crow sticker (Santa hat 😉) along with my other stickers and prints, and shop other local makers!

#BirdArt #TwinCities #StPaul #Minneapolis #holidaymarket
Marker illustration of an American crow seen from the front. The all black bird is looking off the to side, and it's standing in a wide-legged stance. Santa KAWS market flyer. Text reads "Santa KAWS! Holiday Market. Sunday, December 7th (12-5PM). The Lodge of Lazarus Crowe, 560 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
November 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
I remembered why I haven't painted that many shorebirds 😅

Though it's never as painful as I think it will be! It just takes a lot of activation energy to start.

#WIP #ArtYear #BirdArt #SciArt #AnimalArt #Watercolor
In-progress watercolor painting of a long-billed curlew
November 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
I saw shorebirds galore while in Monterey, including some Black-bellied Plovers. Here's a painting I did a few years ago when one randomly showed up in Minnesota!

#BirdArt #SciArt #Watercolor #FineArt #AnimalArt
Detailed watercolor painting of a black-bellied plover walking across sand near water. The bird is shown from the side and is black and white on its back with a striking black belly, neck and face. Its shadow is cast onto the sand.
November 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
I just got back from a trip to Monterey, and got 34 new lifers, including Long-billed Curlew!

I wasn't happy with the bill length but ran out of paper space, so I had to redraw it. I envy digital artists in situations like these!

#BirdArt #WIP #SciArt

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Two pencil sketches of a Long-billed Curlew eating a snail
November 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
I've been jealously eyeing reports of Evening Grosbeaks at feeders in northern MN! You know I love a species when I can't resist painting both the male and female ❤️

#BirdArt #SciArt #FineArt #Watercolor #AnimalArt
Detailed watercolor painting of a pair of evening grosbeaks perched on a thin branch covered in hoarfrost. The yellow male is near the tip of the branch while the warm gray female is further down. The background is a light gray wash with faded lines depicting further away branches.
November 8, 2025 at 2:30 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
First finished piece since the end of Birdtober! A Ruby-crowned Kinglet enjoying the beautiful fall leaves. #NearbyNature2025 fun fact: apparently they run on just 10 calories a day, which is funny considering how they never stay still!

#BirdArt #SciArt #FineArt #Watercolor #AnimalArt #ArtYear
Detailed watercolor painting of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet perched among orange fall leaves
November 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
It's going to be a big finch year, and I've been seeing reports of Pine Grosbeaks in Northern MN already! I painted these in 2023, shortly after the first and only time I've seen these lovely birds.

#BirdArt #SciArt #Watercolor #FineArt #AnimalArt
Detailed watercolor painting of a pair of pine grosbeaks perched on a spruce branch. The male is on the left of the image and light-red with black and white wings. The female is standing in front of the male's tail and is gray with orange-yellow on her head with black and white wings.
November 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
Full roll call for #Birdtober2025! I had a lot of fun drawing this diverse list. All of these were done in pen and alcohol-based markers.

Comment your favorite! I always love to hear it since I can never pick a favorite myself

#BirdArt #SciArt #ArtYear #dailyartchallenge #AnimalArt #Copic #Ohuhu
Photo of all of my Birdtober 2025 marker drawings
November 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
Happy Halloween! Here's a crow for spooky day! 🐦‍⬛ 🎃 👻

#BirdArt #SciArt #Watercolor #FineArt #animalart
Detailed watercolor painting of an American crow perched on a thin vertical birch branch with golden fall leaves. The bird is seen from the side. The background shows additional branches with golden leaves and pale blue sky.
October 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
Birdtober Day 31: Pine Grosbeak (Artist's Choice)

I chose this because it's one of my favorite Minnesota birds. The redness on the males varies, and I may have gone a little too red on him. Oh well, he's just the sexiest Pine Grosbeak alive I guess 😆

#BirdArt #SciArt #Copic #ArtYear
Marker drawing of a male Pine Grosbeak
October 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
#Birdtober Day 30: Purple-crested Turaco

When I saw what the wings looked like on these guys, I knew I had to draw one in flight. It's like a little phoenix pterodactyl!

One more #Birdtober2025 left!

#BirdArt #SciArt #FineArt #ArtYear #Copic #dailyartchallenge #AnimalArt
Marker drawing of a Purple-crested Turaco in flight
October 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
#Birdtober Day 29: Varied Bunting

The fabled mixed berry jam bird! This one was tricky to do with marker, but I'm happy with how it ended up. The purples don't show up well in the photo.

Only 2 more days left of #Birdtober2025!

#BirdArt #SciArt #ArtYear #AnimalArt #Copic #dailyartchallenge
Marker drawing of a Varied Bunting
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
#Birdtober Day 28: Sultan Tit

What a pretty bird, and a great name! I gave it a playful pose that reminds me of the chickadees around me that are related to them.

#Birdtober2025 is hosted by Andrea Holmes

#BirdArt #SciArt #Copic #Dailyartchallenge #ArtYear #AnimalArt
Marker drawing of a Sultan Tit
October 28, 2025 at 12:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
#Birdtober Day 27: California Condor

Me to other birds: What a beautiful birdy! What a cutie!

Me to California Condor: ...You're a critical part of the ecosystem!

(But they are awesome!)

#Birdtober2025 is hosted by Andrea Holmes

#BirdArt #SciArt #ArtYear #Copic #AnimalArt #FineArt #Ohuhu
Marker drawing of a California Condor portrait
October 27, 2025 at 12:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
#Birdtober Day 26: Pacific Wren

They look so much like the Winter Wrens here. I love round birds!

#Birdtober2025 is hosted by Andrea Holmes

#BirdArt #SciArt #ArtYear #Copic #AnimalArt #dailyartchallenge #ohuhu
Marker drawing of a Pacific Wren
October 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
#Birdtober Day 25: Acorn Woodpecker

With an acorn of course. I once came across a video where one had cached acorns in a grill to the point where it was completely full!

#Birdtober2025 is hosted by Andrea Holmes

#BirdArt #SciArt #FineArt #ArtYear #AnimalArt #copic
Marker drawing of an Acorn Woodpecker
October 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
annieshaoart.bsky.social
#Birdtober Day 24: Olive Warbler

So yesterday's waterthrush isn't a thrush but is a warbler, and today's warbler is not really a warbler 😆 Olive Warblers were recently put in their own family due to genetic studies.

#Birdtober2025 is hosted by Andrea Holmes

#BirdArt #SciArt #AnimalArt #Copic
Marker drawing of an Olive Warbler, shown with 3 Copic markers on the side
October 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM