Harnessing light is my primary goal as I strive to create shifting highlights and shadows throughout my sculptures. Any opportunity to increase this effect is always welcome.

One such aspect came to my attention as I watched a solitary male northern cardinal bask in the fading sun on one of many sparkling sub-zero winter days last winter. Hence the fluffy air-filled feathers on this latest cardinal design.

Simply put it gives me much more to work with but this time I was searching for yet another twist. The idea of making the support from mat board materials and archival paper seemed worth a try.

Various shimmering sheets of hand-made papers caught my eye and further inspired me into a tendency I am told emerges from time to time. The propensity to become distracted and an inability on some occasions to make a choice. Alas, both proved essential in creating this little series of seven sculptures.

I hope to create more in this collection of backyard birds initiated by a cardinal that conquered the cold and brightened the twilight on a cold winter day.