Where Feathers Come From
turkey feather
© Chris Maynard

Chris Maynard’s Creative Process

detail, Where Feathers Come From
© Chris Maynard

“Feathers,” artist Chris Maynard says, “represent life’s wonders.”

A trained biologist, Maynard knows a lot about birds and their feathers. He can tell you everything from the structure of feathers to the patterns of bird migration.

Turning to Art

Although he studied the sciences, Maynard grew up around art. And his artist mother was very careful not to squelch her son’s creativity. When his mom passed away in 2008, Maynard had a life-changing “Oh, I see” moment. He decided to turn away from his science career to the art she had taught him to love.

Now, he says “I feel like I’ve come home.”

Maynard’s dad was influential on his son’s work as well. His dad was an eye surgeon who did technical, detailed work. Maynard remembers his dad wearing the thick magnifying lenses he now uses. He also relies on his dad’s surgery scissors and forceps to do his own detailed work.

Chris Maynard, wearing his father’s magnifying glasses.
© Chris Maynard

Focus on Feathers

While still a biologist, Maynard loved to photograph feathers. When he shifted his full-time attention to art, he kept his focus on them. Now he uses a creative process influenced by his deep appreciation for the wondrous science behind feathers.

“Feathers are curved, so naturally they don’t get pasted flat on a piece of paper. I do three-dimensional sculpture rather than two-dimensional pieces. The feathers get pulled away from the paper, and, as a result, shadows became a natural part of my art,” Maynard explains.

Reflection
matched pair, Great Argus pheasant feathers
© Chris Maynard

detail, Reflection
© Chris Maynard

He also is intrigued with the patterns and colors. “A bird’s feathers will grow so that they are almost exactly mirror images on each side. It’s kind of a mystery how they match so well.”

The patterns and colors are highlighted in the delicate bird shapes he trims from the feather shafts. “Cutting feathers makes them richer for most of us, so I can say different things with them,” he shares.

Staying Together

Knowing that Maynard’s meticulous cuttings are made of feathers, you have to wonder how his pieces stay together.

To explain, Maynard first describes how a feather is made. “Each feather is made of a shaft and a bunch of barbs that come off the shaft.  Like tree branches. Each branch, or barb, has more branches coming off of it.  On a feather these smaller branches are called barbules. Each barbule has a grabby claw hook which grasps others.  That’s what keeps a feather together and flat. Without them, birds couldn’t fly. It’s like Velcro. And they can come apart and zip back together again.”

Maynard relies on the barbules to keep his cut pieces together as well.

Even so, the shape of his cuts may break the connections sometimes. So he uses backing material in certain places to keep the form in place.

Blackbirds
European crow feathers
© Chris Maynard

Capturing Motion and Sound

Maynard’s cut feather art ripples with motion and sound.

“I like to capture sound, if I can, in an image because sound is over time, not like an instant art image. If someone can imagine the sound, the image might last longer,” he explains.

Singing Bird 14
pigeon and parrot feathers
© Chris Maynard

His work also captures the motion of the birds in flight or the gentle movement of water around them.

Ibis 1
Impeyan pheasant tail feathers
© Chris Maynard

Getting Materials

Since it illegal to have certain kinds of feathers, Maynard is careful in his collections. He gathers feathers from aviaries, bird owners, zoos, and even his own pet pheasants. Once, a woman sent him a huge bag of feathers her mother had collected over 22 years from their pet parakeet.

Kingfisher 2
blue and gold macaw and parakeet feathers
© Chris Maynard

Rewards

Maynard clearly loves his creative process as much as he loves the wonders of a feather. He loves to share what he knows about birds and feathers. And he especially loves when people find feathers as beautiful as he does.

Peacock Attraction
India blue peacock feathers
© Chris Maynard

detail, Peacock Attraction
© Chris Maynard

“Sharing life’s wonders with people, having it hit a chord with people, is satisfying,” Maynard says. “If people see feathers in new ways and then go out and see birds in new ways, I feel like I’ve been successful.”

Oh, I see life’s wonders in new ways!

In addition to his online gallery, Maynard’s work can be seen at the Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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