These works have been inspired by a fascination with the "beauty in the ugly". Humans often mistake our standards of beauty for something universal. However, while a male warthog's facial warts, an iguana's spines and dewlap, or a Muscovy duck's red facial caruncles may strike us as grotesque, to members of their own species, those features can be signals of exactly the things humans also value: health, strength, and virility. Through these drawings I want to explore the concept of beauty in unexpected places.

Crested Grebe ink on paper, 5.5x8.5

Muscovy Duck ink on paper, 5.5x8.5

Iguana ink on paper, 5.5x8.5

Cassowary ink on paper, 5.5x8.5

Ocellated Turkey ink on paper, 5.5x8.5

Ink Drawings

Raven ink on paper, 5.5x8.5

Horned Owl ink on paper, 5.5x8.5

Spiney Ibis ink on paper, 5.5x8.5

Black Crested Guan ink on paper, 5.5x8.5

Raven ink on paper, 5.5x8.5