Andrea Salter
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ansrethal.bsky.social
Andrea Salter
@ansrethal.bsky.social
17 followers 29 following 38 posts
33. Dane. Biochemist 🧬🧪 Bird lover. Neurodivergent. HSD. Chronic migraine warrior. Artist. Gamer. Ansrethal on XBL and PSN.
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ansrethal.bsky.social
First painting of the year! A yellow-rumped warb with some spiderwebs.
A painting of a small bird facing down to the right while perched on an upside down Y-shaped branch. The bird is overall a dark blue-gray with a small yellow patch on the crown, the rump, and under the wing on the side of the chest. There is a thin white stripe extending through the top third of the eye above a larger triangle patch of black feathers. The chin and belly are both white, but they are separated by a black dangling necklace shape of feathers. There is a zigzag of pastel rainbow spiderwebs etween the arms of the Y-shaped branch. There are small six-point star shapes where the spiderweb lines meet. The background is black.
January 15, 2026 at 8:04 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Tennessee warb has been done for a couple months. I like the yellow-green of the body with the pale lavender colored flowers.

The photo that I referenced the pose from is added. I had a couple other photos that I took of the same warb to help with the areas covered by stems in the reference.
A painting of a yellow-green colored bird clinging to a stem of small purple flowers. The bird is facing upward to the left of the page with one leg visible on the thick green flower stem. The daisy-like purple flowers are clustered in four groups of three flowers around the bird for balance. Two rippled leaves placed opposite of each other are at the bottom of the page, one small rippled leaf is in the center by the bird’s chest, and two more are at the top of the page. The background is black. A photo of the back of my camera showing a small yellow-green bird in the same upward facing pose of the painting, surrounded heavily by green flower stems. The middle and back of the bird is slightly shrouded by stems and leaves.
November 23, 2025 at 5:51 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
A Tennessee warbler and Short’s aster update. I’ve been seeing a lot of mixed flocks of warbies the past few days. Got some good reference photos of a beautiful black-throated green warbler while he was bopping around the leaves for snacks.
A partially complete painting of a Tennessee warbler on a single green stem of Short’s aster. The pale purple daisy-like flowers with yellow centers are placed in groups of three, somewhat evenly spaced on the page for balance. A few wavy, lance shaped green leaves are visible both above and below the unpainted sketch of the bird in the center. The background is black.
September 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Back to our regularly scheduled program. This is a sketch of a Tennessee warbler on Short’s aster. Referenced from a photo that I took a few days ago while watching for migration waves. He’s on 9x12” mixed media paper, so a lot bigger than the previous paper that I’ve used. He will be painted soon!
A pencil sketch of a bird clinging to a thin stemmed flower pick. The bird is facing the left with their head pointed upward toward the small daisy-like flowers above. There are lance-shaped leaves placed opposite of each other to fill in the space between the flower clusters. Small unopened flowers are scattered around for visual interest.
September 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Hawaiian Rail with 'ōhelo #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of an overall rust colored bird facing the right while standing on a clump of dirt that is surrounded by small leafed plants with berries. The bird is overall the same rust color with some variety of lighter feathers on the back and coverts for visual interest. The beak and legs are light peach. The bird has a bright red eye that stands out against the lighter feathers. Below the bird are small pointed, oval shaped green leaves arranged opposite on the stems. Clusters of red berries in groups of three are placed in the center of the leaf picks. There are thin blades of grass placed in the sparse areas. There is a thin 3 inch diameter gold ring that aligns with the bird’s belly. The background is cream.
August 31, 2025 at 5:44 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Kākāwahie with naio #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a scarlet bird facing downward to the left while perched on leaves with flowers below. The bird is overall a scarlet color with some lighter orange blended in for visual interest. The primary flight feathers and tail are charcoal gray. The beak and feet are peach colored. The bird is standing on clusters of lance shaped green leaves arranged in groups of three. Below the green leaves are a handful of light magenta flowers with 5 rounded petals each. The centers of the flowers are light green with white and dark magenta stakes extending from the center. A thin 3 inch diameter gold ring is behind the bird that aligns with the feet. The background is cream.
August 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Palila with māmane #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a bird facing the left while standing on a pick of leaves and flowers. The bird is overall light colored with a golden yellow head and primary flight feathers that sharply transition into an off white belly. The bird has a medium gray back that smoothly blends into a dark green tail. The eye of the bird had a smudge of black around it that forms a point on the backside of the eye, similar to winged eyeliner. The peach beak is an equilateral triangle shape. The black legs are perched on picks of dark green, delicate oval leaves evenly spaced along the stems. Below the leaves are three orchid-shaped flowers that are a the same golden yellow as the bird’s head. There is a thin gold diamond shape that spans the entirety of the page. The background is cream.
August 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
'Ula-'ai-hāwane with pritchardia affinis and pritchardia beccariana #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a dark, multicolored bird facing the right with its peach beak upturned slightly. The bird is standing on a cluster of hanging flowers and leaves. The bird is overall dark with a silvery gray head that sharply changes to black on the chest, then sharply changes to dark red on the belly and underfluffies. The wing coverts are a deep crimson, and the primaries are black. There is a small patch of feathers that are white between the primary coverts and the tips of the black primary feathers. The rump is crimson and the tail is black. The hanging clusters of flowers are yellow and tubular, arranged somewhat evenly on the stems. Placed between the clusters are a few hanging orange buds and pink orchid-like flowers with thing elongated petals. Several pointed oval leaves are in the back of the flowers. There is a thin 3 inch diameter gold ring behind the bird. The background is cream.
August 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
'Ō'u with lehua, makanoe, and 'ōhi'a #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a parrot shaped bird facing the right with leaves and a couple flowers below. The bird has a golden head that transitions into light green feathers on the belly, and dark green feathers on the back, wings, and tail. The bird has a curved pink bill. The bird’s pink feet are perched on light green lance shaped leaves in groups of three with red veining and stems. The center of the stems extend to either side with two mostly closed red flowers hanging toward the bottom of the page. There are a few stems of oval shaped leaves placed opposite of each other. A large 4 inch diameter thin gold ring is behind the whole bird. The background is cream.
August 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Kiwikiu with kanawao and ‘ōhi’a #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of an overall yellow bird facing the left while standing on a large cluster of flowers above leaves. The golden colored bird has a pink bill shaped similar to a parrot’s bill. The feathers smoothly transition from a deeper ochre color in a stripe through the eyes to an olive color on the back of the head, the wings, and tail. The belly is all golden yellow. The bird’s charcoal feet are perched on a large rounded cluster of purple flowers with 5 petals each. The centers of the flowers are bright green with darker purple stamens placed evenly around the center. The leaves for this plant are large ovals that have a finely toothed edge. Mixed in at the bottom of the page are small stems of tiny ovate leaves placed opposite of each other. Thin grasses fill in the sparse areas. A thin gold diamond shape spans the entirety of the page. The background is cream.
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Kauai 'ō'ō with lapalapa and ‘ōhi’a #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a small dark bird facing the right while standing on flowers with leaves and berries below. The bird’s tail is pointed upward at a 45 degree angle. The bird is overall a very dark brown with a black head, wings, and tail. The side of the face is a slightly lighter gray that transitions into black to match the long pointed bill. The side of the bird belly has a light gray stripe that follows the contour of the folded wing. A tiny bit of the bird’s bright yellow pants are visible below the belly. The deep red flowers under the bird’s gray feet are made entirely of stamens. Behind the 'ōhi'a flowers and stems are wide, pointed oval shaped leaves in groups of three. Small dark blue berry picks fill in the sparse areas between the leaves and flowers. There is a thin gold diamond shape that spans the entirety of the page. The background is cream.
August 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Hawaiian Stilt with cyperus laevigatus #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a wading bird facing the left while mid-step in an indication of water surrounded by grass. The bird is overall a dark charcoal gray color, but from the cheek, down the front of the neck, to the belly and tail is all white. The long, pointed beak is charcoal gray. Above the eye is a sideways teardrop shaped patch of white feathers. The extremely long, bright pink legs look out of proportion to the size of the bird’s body. One is lifted slightly out of the water. There are long blades of grass surrounding the bird’s legs. Some of the bright green grasses have tiny brown seeds halfway up the blades. There is a 2 inch diameter thin gold ring behind the bird’s head, resembling the sun. The background is cream.
August 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
'Ākiapōla'au with ‘ōhi’a and koa #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of an overall yellow bird standing on a cluster of flowers and leaves while facing the right. The bird is a nice golden yellow all over with a slightly darker yellow ochre tail. The black beak is long and the top of the bill curves downward at the tip. The deep red flower that the bird is standing on is made entirely of stamens. Below the flower are tiny green oval shaped leaves placed opposite of each other on the stems. Small blades of grass fill in the sparse areas. Behind the bird is a thin diamond shape that spans the entirety of the page. The background is cream.
August 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Hawai'i 'elepaio with ‘ōhi’a and koa #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a small bird facing the left with their tail pointed upward and fanned out like a wren while standing on a cluster of flowers and leaves. The bird has an overall brown body with cream colored feathers in a line at the eye and the chin. The very base of the beak has a small patch of black feathers at the bottom. The belly is all tan with some lighter feathers placed here and there for variety. The wings are dark brown with some small dots of white on the secondary coverts. There is one thin white wing bar. The primary feathers are deep chocolate brown. The rump and tail of the bird is black, but there is a broad patch of white at the base of the tail. The three flowers below are deep red and made entirely of stamens. The tiny oval leaves are positioned opposite on the stems. Mixed in with the stems are some wider grass-like leaves. Behind the bird is a thin 3 inch diameter gold ring that aligns with the bird’s tan belly. The background is cream.
August 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Red-whiskered bulbul with ivy gourd #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of an overall charcoal bird facing the left with a cluster of leaves, berries, and flowers below. The bird is dark gray with a slight brown highlight on the back with a black crest. The cheek has a small circle of red with a secondary white circle directly below. The chin and belly are white with a thin black necklace separating the two areas. The underside of the tail is red at the base before turning into black with two white ovals at the very tip of the tail feathers. The green leaves below the bird are shaped like pentagons and placed somewhat evenly on the vine stem. Bright red oval berries fill in the spaces between the leaves. There are two star shaped pale lilac colored flowers toward the bottom of the page. Behind the bird is a thin 3 inch gold ring that aligns with the bird’s feet. The background is cream.
August 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Nēnē with pūkiawe and 'ōlapa #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a goose facing the right while standing on a small hill of dirt surrounded by leaves and berries. The goose has a black head with a cream colored cheek and neck. The neck has extremely thin black lines swirling delicately down the bird to the gray and cream mottled chest. The back, wings, and tail are dark brown. The wings have several cream colored horizontal lines on the feathers. The beak and feet are black. Below the bird are two separate plants with two different colored berries. The largest leaves are pointed ovals arranged in groups of three. Between the leaves are small dark blue berries. There are smaller picks of tiny green oval leaves placed opposite on the stems toward the bottom of the page. There are a few groups of three red berries to fill in some of the space between the other leaves and berries. There is a 3 inch diameter thin gold ring that resembles the sun behind the bird. The background is cream.
August 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
'Ākohekohe with 'ōlapa #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of an overall dark gray bird facing the right with its beak pointed toward the upper right corner of the page while standing on a pick of large leaves with small berries. The bird has a white crest from the base of the black beak halfway to the back of the head. The nape of the bird is bright red, along with a ring around the bird’s eye. There are small red flecks on the wing feathers of the bird. The belly is a light gray with small dark gray streaking. The pointed oval leaves below the bird have noticeable dark green veining. There are clusters of dark blue berries to fill in the spaces between the leaves. There is a 3 inch thin gold ring behind the bird that aligns with the bird’s feet. The background is cream.
August 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Laysan finch with portulaca lutea and tribulus cistoides #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a bird facing the left with the beak upturned slightly while standing on a cluster of leaves and flowers. The finch is overall a golden yellow color with a darker green-gray on the back, and a deeper charcoal on the wings and tail. The edges of the feathers closer to the belly are golden yellow. The triangular beak is a dusty peach color. The tiny green leaves below the bird are placed opposite of each other on the stems. Mixed in with the leaves are a couple larger yellow flowers with 5 rounded petals, and some smaller yellow flowers with 5 split petals. The smaller flowers have three coin shaped leaves behind each of them. There is a thin gold diamond that spans the entirety of the page behind the bird. The background is cream.
August 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Zebra dove with 'ōhi'a, 'ilima, and pili #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a dove perched on tiny oval leaved stems with grass and three flowers at the bottom of the page. The bird is facing the right with its charcoal beak upturned slightly. The dove has an overall light brown body with a gray face, a blushed belly, and a rust colored tail. The dark brown eye is surrounded by a small ring of pale turquoise and green. Extremely thin horizontal black lines wrap around the neck and the sides of the belly. The same black lines are at the edges of some feathers on the light brown wings. The oval leaves on the longest stems are placed opposite and curve up toward the bird’s belly. The light green grass is elegantly twisted. The flowers are all the same type; yellow with 5 pointed petals and light yellow centers. The leaves with the flowers are pointed ovals with finely toothed edges. There is a 3 inch thin gold ring positioned around the bird to align with the feet. The background is cream.
August 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
'Ōma'o with 'ōhelo and pūkiawe #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a dark bird with their back facing you, but their head facing to the left. They are perched on a thin stem of small oval leaves with a cluster of berries at the bottom. The bird is overall dark brown with a white patch on the cheek. The long pointed beak is charcoal. The green oval leaves below the bird are placed in alternating pairs around the stems. The six red berries are clustered toward the bottom of the page, surrounded by tiny needle shaped leaves. A thin gold diamond spans the entirety of the page. The background is cream.
August 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
'Akikiki with Kauai geranium and helodeaster erici #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a small bird standing atop a stem of leaves with flowers curling up toward the bird. The bird is facing down toward the bottom left corner of the page. The bird is overall dark gray with a paler gray on the cheek and belly. The feet and beak are a dusty peach color. The green leaves are oval and placed opposite of each other on the stems. Curling up toward the bird’s beak and tail are two small light pink flowers that look like asters. A couple oval leaves are spaced far apart on the stems. Below the asters are two light pink flowers with 5 petals that look like stars. The centers and stamens are dark magenta. Just above the bird’s back is a 2 inch diameter thin gold ring. The background is cream.
August 15, 2025 at 5:08 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
'Ua'u with geranium multiflorum and geranium arboreum #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a sea bird facing downward to the right while flying over a small pick of three flowers. The wings are spread, but pulled in slightly at the ends. The bird is dark chocolatey brown above and white below. The charcoal beak is long and slightly curved at the tip. Below the bottom wing is a cluster of three flowers that have 5 petals each. The top and center most is light pink with a dark magenta center. The bottom two flowers are deep red with the petals curled back toward the stem. The red flowers are in side view, so only the top part of the green stamens are visible. The flowers are surrounded by four large lance shaped leaves with finely toothed edges. Behind the bird is a 3 inch diameter thin gold ring. The background is cream.
August 14, 2025 at 5:25 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
Hawaiian Gallinule with bluemink and acacia koa #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a coot shaped bird mid-step in an indication of water with a cluster of flowers below. The gallinule is facing the right with one leg raised and their back nearly horizontal, as if they’re looking for a snack in the water. The bird is overall a dark slate gray with a slight brown tint on the back and wings. There is a small stripe of white feathers that follow the contour of the folded wing. The facial shield is red, but the beak tip is pale yellow. The legs are yellow-orange. Below the bird is a cluster of periwinkle colored fuzzy flowers. The clusters are comprised of many smaller flowers. There are oval shaped green leaves with toothed edges around the flowers. There are a couple stems of tiny oval leaves placed opposite of each other at the very bottom of the foliage. There is a 2 inch diameter gold ring behind the bird, resembling the sun. The background is cream.
August 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
'Io with acacia koa and uki'uki #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of an overall brown hawk standing on a rock surrounded by long bladed grasses and some fruits. The hawk is facing the right. It has a dark brown back and head, but a cream colored belly. The chest has mottled brown feathers that blend into the dark brown neck and head. The hawk’s tail is dark brown with several thin cream colored horizontal stripes. The beak and feet are yellow. There are straight blades of long grass around the rock that the bird is standing on. Between the grass blades are a different plant with slightly wavy lance shaped leaves placed opposite on the stems. There are three small clusters of dark purple oval fruits toward the bottom of the grasses. There is a 3 inch diameter thin gold ring that surrounds the bird’s head like a large halo. The background is cream.
August 12, 2025 at 5:29 PM
ansrethal.bsky.social
The 'aniāniau with lapalapa and ‘ōhi’a #AvianAugust #AvianAugust2025
A painting of a yellow-green bird facing downward to the right while standing on a stem of leaves and berries. The bird is all yellow-green except for the deeper green-gray wings. The thin pointy beak and legs are dusty pink. There are round leaves in a cluster of three that extend behind the bird. Below these leaves are dark blue berries in groups of three to six. There are small picks of tiny green oval leaves positioned opposite on the stems to take up space between the berries. There is a thin gold diamond that spans the entire page behind the bird. The background is cream.
August 11, 2025 at 5:24 PM