H L Birdsong
@smidgeonpress.bsky.social
Artist, etc. in Portland, OR
(she/her/they/them)
https://heatherleebirdsong.com/news
Dec 2025: Russo Lee Gallery, PDX (group)
Mar 2026: Russo Lee Gallery, PDX (solo)
(she/her/they/them)
https://heatherleebirdsong.com/news
Dec 2025: Russo Lee Gallery, PDX (group)
Mar 2026: Russo Lee Gallery, PDX (solo)
Went to spend some time with the Ursula K. Le Guin exhibition at @oregoncontemporary.bsky.social today. Some random things, idiosyncratically chosen (I only took pictures relevant to a conversation I was having with a friend):
November 15, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Went to spend some time with the Ursula K. Le Guin exhibition at @oregoncontemporary.bsky.social today. Some random things, idiosyncratically chosen (I only took pictures relevant to a conversation I was having with a friend):
Today’s message from the random universe. Do you know where your towel is?
November 11, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Today’s message from the random universe. Do you know where your towel is?
Ta-da!
These figures were inspired by a photo of an aunt and uncle (siblings) who were important figures in my youth. Most of my relationships with biological family are—well—complicated, let’s say. They were not exceptions.
These figures were inspired by a photo of an aunt and uncle (siblings) who were important figures in my youth. Most of my relationships with biological family are—well—complicated, let’s say. They were not exceptions.
November 5, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Ta-da!
These figures were inspired by a photo of an aunt and uncle (siblings) who were important figures in my youth. Most of my relationships with biological family are—well—complicated, let’s say. They were not exceptions.
These figures were inspired by a photo of an aunt and uncle (siblings) who were important figures in my youth. Most of my relationships with biological family are—well—complicated, let’s say. They were not exceptions.
Working out scale and placement for these two figures
November 2, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Working out scale and placement for these two figures
Sometimes I use little paper maquettes to work out the polygon figures for my paintings. Mostly I use an old desktop copy of Sketchup Make on an ancient laptop, but sometimes I need to play with something physical to figure it out. (I also need more gray card stock, which shows lighting better.)
November 1, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Sometimes I use little paper maquettes to work out the polygon figures for my paintings. Mostly I use an old desktop copy of Sketchup Make on an ancient laptop, but sometimes I need to play with something physical to figure it out. (I also need more gray card stock, which shows lighting better.)
I was at Sterling Coffee earlier today, and they had this artwork propped up where I waited for my beverage. So, naturally I’m now imagining you in Crocs that match your mask (sorry?)
October 31, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I was at Sterling Coffee earlier today, and they had this artwork propped up where I waited for my beverage. So, naturally I’m now imagining you in Crocs that match your mask (sorry?)
Saw this marvelous rose on a walk yesterday in our quiet Portland neighborhood. The rest of the rose bush was in awful shape—as if it mustered up everything it had to produce this one perfect rose. Maybe the contrast made it stand out all the more.
October 11, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Saw this marvelous rose on a walk yesterday in our quiet Portland neighborhood. The rest of the rose bush was in awful shape—as if it mustered up everything it had to produce this one perfect rose. Maybe the contrast made it stand out all the more.
Happy birthday to artist Julie Green, whom I miss very much.
Their most famous project, The Last Supper—paintings on ceramic plates illustrating final meals of executed US prisoners—is on view at the Boise Art Museum. A 3D virtual tour is available: boiseartmuseum.org/exhibition/j...
Their most famous project, The Last Supper—paintings on ceramic plates illustrating final meals of executed US prisoners—is on view at the Boise Art Museum. A 3D virtual tour is available: boiseartmuseum.org/exhibition/j...
September 22, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Happy birthday to artist Julie Green, whom I miss very much.
Their most famous project, The Last Supper—paintings on ceramic plates illustrating final meals of executed US prisoners—is on view at the Boise Art Museum. A 3D virtual tour is available: boiseartmuseum.org/exhibition/j...
Their most famous project, The Last Supper—paintings on ceramic plates illustrating final meals of executed US prisoners—is on view at the Boise Art Museum. A 3D virtual tour is available: boiseartmuseum.org/exhibition/j...
Show me your pink art
I Never May Believe, 2024; matte vinyl paint, graphite, and colored pencil on translucent YUPO (painted on both sides); 12 x 9 inches. Title is a line from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Contact Russo Lee Gallery with inquiries.
I Never May Believe, 2024; matte vinyl paint, graphite, and colored pencil on translucent YUPO (painted on both sides); 12 x 9 inches. Title is a line from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Contact Russo Lee Gallery with inquiries.
September 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Show me your pink art
I Never May Believe, 2024; matte vinyl paint, graphite, and colored pencil on translucent YUPO (painted on both sides); 12 x 9 inches. Title is a line from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Contact Russo Lee Gallery with inquiries.
I Never May Believe, 2024; matte vinyl paint, graphite, and colored pencil on translucent YUPO (painted on both sides); 12 x 9 inches. Title is a line from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Contact Russo Lee Gallery with inquiries.
Collecting references/inspiration for a work in progress. I’m finally making use of photos I took 20 years ago in Italy. I’m so glad young me was wise enough to scrawl notes on the backs—the black cat, sprawled languorously on the pink brick terrace (lower right), was named Rosetta.
August 31, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Collecting references/inspiration for a work in progress. I’m finally making use of photos I took 20 years ago in Italy. I’m so glad young me was wise enough to scrawl notes on the backs—the black cat, sprawled languorously on the pink brick terrace (lower right), was named Rosetta.
This painting fought me every step of the way, but it’s finally done! It’s essentially a love-note to a hike around Red Rock Canyon, Nevada that I loved when I lived there.
Now to cut it from the block, title it, add to inventory, document, etc. etc. (Archiving is part of the process!)
Now to cut it from the block, title it, add to inventory, document, etc. etc. (Archiving is part of the process!)
August 12, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This painting fought me every step of the way, but it’s finally done! It’s essentially a love-note to a hike around Red Rock Canyon, Nevada that I loved when I lived there.
Now to cut it from the block, title it, add to inventory, document, etc. etc. (Archiving is part of the process!)
Now to cut it from the block, title it, add to inventory, document, etc. etc. (Archiving is part of the process!)
I painted shadows, then a rock—and now I have to repaint the shadows a darker value to make the rock sit properly. This, dear viewers, is what happens when I don’t exhaustively check my colors and “just go for it”.
Gouache looks different when wet, so what’s on the palette is unreliable.
Gouache looks different when wet, so what’s on the palette is unreliable.
August 4, 2025 at 5:59 AM
I painted shadows, then a rock—and now I have to repaint the shadows a darker value to make the rock sit properly. This, dear viewers, is what happens when I don’t exhaustively check my colors and “just go for it”.
Gouache looks different when wet, so what’s on the palette is unreliable.
Gouache looks different when wet, so what’s on the palette is unreliable.
Returning to a painting I started, struggled with, and set aside for several months (a year or more? I have no idea). Adding this sonoran scrub oak and bringing back a cluster of boulders fixed what felt off, I think, so I’m back at it. Gouache is easier to work over if it’s been dry a while.
July 19, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Returning to a painting I started, struggled with, and set aside for several months (a year or more? I have no idea). Adding this sonoran scrub oak and bringing back a cluster of boulders fixed what felt off, I think, so I’m back at it. Gouache is easier to work over if it’s been dry a while.
Thinking about this painting, which I sold a few years ago. The architecture is, partly, reconstructed from imperfect memories of an uncle’s house I often visited growing up. He built it himself, and my favorite room was a “no unattended children allowed” formal sitting room, all in blues.
July 18, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Thinking about this painting, which I sold a few years ago. The architecture is, partly, reconstructed from imperfect memories of an uncle’s house I often visited growing up. He built it himself, and my favorite room was a “no unattended children allowed” formal sitting room, all in blues.
Is this charcoal drawing done? I think it’s done. As long as spraying fixative on it doesn’t fuck it up!
It was nice working with value so directly. Intaglio and gouache, my usual media, both require more careful planning, since what one sees immediately is not what one gets in the end.
It was nice working with value so directly. Intaglio and gouache, my usual media, both require more careful planning, since what one sees immediately is not what one gets in the end.
July 7, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Is this charcoal drawing done? I think it’s done. As long as spraying fixative on it doesn’t fuck it up!
It was nice working with value so directly. Intaglio and gouache, my usual media, both require more careful planning, since what one sees immediately is not what one gets in the end.
It was nice working with value so directly. Intaglio and gouache, my usual media, both require more careful planning, since what one sees immediately is not what one gets in the end.
If the point of this thing keeps breaking off every other time I sharpen it, I may run out of pencil before I can finish this drawing!
July 2, 2025 at 2:30 AM
If the point of this thing keeps breaking off every other time I sharpen it, I may run out of pencil before I can finish this drawing!
Sketchbook doodle. I’m just noodling around with a brush pen, but it helps me think through things.
June 30, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Sketchbook doodle. I’m just noodling around with a brush pen, but it helps me think through things.
I was struck by this painting (love Vallotton’s work in general) when it was at the Portland Art Museum in 2021/22—and then got floored by the didactic text. I took a photo and kept it because the last sentence felt so out of left field!
June 23, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I was struck by this painting (love Vallotton’s work in general) when it was at the Portland Art Museum in 2021/22—and then got floored by the didactic text. I took a photo and kept it because the last sentence felt so out of left field!
Popped by the coaster show today at Nucleus PDX! There’s always so much good stuff.
Did not escape without an obligatory “artist with work” pic (thanks @wcwilliams.bsky.social)
Did not escape without an obligatory “artist with work” pic (thanks @wcwilliams.bsky.social)
June 14, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Popped by the coaster show today at Nucleus PDX! There’s always so much good stuff.
Did not escape without an obligatory “artist with work” pic (thanks @wcwilliams.bsky.social)
Did not escape without an obligatory “artist with work” pic (thanks @wcwilliams.bsky.social)
I always see these little sprigs of flowers at the end of long, slender twigs in early spring in Forest Park. It’s indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis, AKA osoberry, Oregon plum).
This little painting (~4x4 inches) is available in Salut! at Nucleus PDX: www.nucleusportland.com/products/s10...
#art
This little painting (~4x4 inches) is available in Salut! at Nucleus PDX: www.nucleusportland.com/products/s10...
#art
June 12, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I always see these little sprigs of flowers at the end of long, slender twigs in early spring in Forest Park. It’s indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis, AKA osoberry, Oregon plum).
This little painting (~4x4 inches) is available in Salut! at Nucleus PDX: www.nucleusportland.com/products/s10...
#art
This little painting (~4x4 inches) is available in Salut! at Nucleus PDX: www.nucleusportland.com/products/s10...
#art
The 10th annual Salut! coaster show is on view at Nucleus Portland—hundreds of artworks on sturdy paper squares. At $74 each, it’s a steal for original, unique art.
Each of mine depict a native spring flower from our beloved Forest Park. This one: the iconic trillium (Trillium ovatum).
Each of mine depict a native spring flower from our beloved Forest Park. This one: the iconic trillium (Trillium ovatum).
June 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
The 10th annual Salut! coaster show is on view at Nucleus Portland—hundreds of artworks on sturdy paper squares. At $74 each, it’s a steal for original, unique art.
Each of mine depict a native spring flower from our beloved Forest Park. This one: the iconic trillium (Trillium ovatum).
Each of mine depict a native spring flower from our beloved Forest Park. This one: the iconic trillium (Trillium ovatum).
WHY did I think drawing this would be any less slow and tedious than any other means of putting it on paper? I haven’t even worked in charcoal in years!
June 9, 2025 at 11:48 PM
WHY did I think drawing this would be any less slow and tedious than any other means of putting it on paper? I haven’t even worked in charcoal in years!
From @oregoncontemporary.bsky.social’s Instagram account (alt text transcribed):
#PDXart #JoinPACE #SupportArtists #ArtsAdvocacy #SupportTheArts
#PDXart #JoinPACE #SupportArtists #ArtsAdvocacy #SupportTheArts
June 3, 2025 at 1:04 AM
From @oregoncontemporary.bsky.social’s Instagram account (alt text transcribed):
#PDXart #JoinPACE #SupportArtists #ArtsAdvocacy #SupportTheArts
#PDXart #JoinPACE #SupportArtists #ArtsAdvocacy #SupportTheArts