A couple of years ago I started posting profiles of artists, crafters and writers who depicted poultry in their work. Some of those folks were inspired by the imagery of birds, while others had a flock of their own and wanted to share their love of chickens with others.
It’s been 28 months and, fittingly, this is the 28th post in the series ‘When Art Meets Chickens’. Angie is clearly an artist that is not only inspired by the shapes and colours of chickens, but their personalities and ability to entertain the folks around them.
I use the term artist rather than painter or illustrator because I’ve never really settled for one medium of art. I’ve been a photographer, photo-manipulator, bridal accessory designer and painter. I don’t really like to limit myself. My work ranges from fairytale-like and ethereal to silly and whimsical. Overall, I like to create beauty and evoke joy with my work.
What’s your history with creating art?
I’ve been drawing since I was a toddler. (I’m fairly certain that my mom still has some of my art from that age). I also always had a camera in my hands when I was in school.
How has your practice changed over time?
I was deeply into photography and photo-manipulation for a very long time, which has influenced how I see light, expressions, and colour now. I’ve recently moved on from photography to painting, and while you’d think that would drastically change my style, it really hasn’t all that much. When I did photography (at least, the photos where I had full creative control), I loved to make it different than a regular photo. I would add lighting, different elements, create wind and movement just to make it more dramatic overall. That has translated seamlessly to painting.
What work is most fulfilling?
Work that makes people ‘feel’. I do custom commissions for clients and it always warms my heart when I get reactions such as making them cry ‘happy tears.’ With my chicken work, it’s a bit different though. The chickens are meant to make people laugh. They’re silly and quirky, and you can’t help but smile when you see them.
My new book is called “The Alphabet According to Chickens.” I’m not quite sure what gave me the idea, it just came to me one day. It’s exactly what it sounds like; every letter of the alphabet is chicken-related. Some of the letters were harder to come up with appropriate words, but I made it work. It includes a snippet of education about each alphabet letter, along with a whimsical illustration. I currently have it available as a soft-cover, but it will also be available in hard-cover form soon and include activity pages where the kids can draw.
Creating this recent chicken book has been a labour of love for me. I started it several months ago and it was a very slow process because I was taking care of my 15½-year-old sick dog at the time. We sadly lost him at the beginning of July, and when my world felt nearly shattered working on illustrating this chicken book became therapy for me. I ended up finishing the rest of the 27 illustrations within a month’s time.
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Honestly, the most impact has been the outpouring of support for this book just in the past week. I’m still kind of in shock about how interested people have been in it so quickly!
What motivates you to create?
Creating is just a part of who I am. I’m not the type of artist that keeps a sketchbook with me constantly. However, I am the type of person that once I get an idea I don’t stop until I see it come to life.
First experience with chickens?
We didn’t have chickens growing up so my first real experience has been my own flock of girls. I’ll never forget when we first got them and were keeping them in a separate office. One of the baby chicks (who ended up being the leader) jumped out of their brooder and ran around the room like a crazy chicken, chirping up a storm! She got herself stuck under the chair, which is where I was finally able to corner her. Needless to say, we enhanced security on their brooder after that.
We got our first flock of six chicks back in early 2021. We currently have ten. We still have four from the first flock and six from the second bunch of girls that we got: one Easter Egger, two Black Sex Links, one ISA Brown, one Sapphire Gem, two Majestic Marans, one Mystic Onyx and two White Leghorns.
They bring us so much joy. Every day, they do something new and silly to make us laugh.
How do chickens inspire your work?
Paintings, the recent book I just finished and a second book in the works about chickens. I’m working on a painting series called “Chickens Ruining Classic Literature”, which was my first real chicken project. I soon found out how much time it was going to take to complete, which is why I started on the Alphabet book which I could get done faster. Each painting in this series has to do with a chicken in a scene of some type of public domain classic literature, whether it be a book, play or children’s rhyme. Chickens essentially steal the show.
The ones I’ve finished so far include scenes from Alice in Wonderland, The Phantom of the Opera, Cinderella and Snow White. My favorite is definitely the one from Alice in Wonderland where the chicken is stealing the “Eat Me” piece of cake out of Alice’s hand. The whole series is supposed to make you laugh.
I recently did a competition called “Art Battle” where you have twenty minutes to paint something in front of a live crowd. I painted an angry rooster. I’m kind of obsessed by chickens.
Thanks to Angie for sharing her story and art, used with permission. For more info on her art and book check out her shop.
Bitchin' Chickens 
Love Angie’s creative mind and art.
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