The inspiration of painting starlings
- Chloe Fenech
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
The starling keeps reappearing in my paintings, just like the birds themselves reappear like clockwork every winter on their migration. I’ve painted them many times over the years, and in many different styles. I wondered what is it about these charming little birds that captures my imagination?
Iridescent hues
You can’t underestimate the beauty of starlings if you’ve been lucky enough to view them up close. Though small, these black birds shimmer in the sunlight, and their feathers glitter with viridian green and purple tones. And of course the little white fleck or “stars” that give them their namesake give these birds a magical appearance, whether on a bright summer day or a frosty sunrise. They might not have the colours of parrots or spectacular tails or plumes, but for an artist, they are a joy to paint in their elegant simplicity.
Murmurations
Theres nothing quite like witnessing a murmuration of starling. This unique flocking behavior causes the birds to make beautiful swirling patterns and shapes in the sky, and such flocks can number in the thousands. The skylit soectacle as well as the noisy is a sight to behold. I’ve witnessed these birds in Aberystwyth, Wales, where they grace the beach and pier annually with their airborn shows. They signal the beginning of winter, and as the season shifts slowly to spring, they vanish once again, dispersed across the countryside.
During the daytime they can often be found in the local villages, gathering in the fruit trees and making quite the beautiful racket!
When Alfie met the starlings
The first time I took my little boy to Wales he was just over a year old, so costly wrapped up in his pushchair, we set off to the cold Aberystwyth pier on a January eve and told him to look up at the sky. The Starlings didn’t disappoint, and neither did his reaction. We also got a little poopy souvenir on the pushchair to remind us of the day.
A selection of my paintings of starlings
All of these memories and moments of significance end up in my painting, whether directly or in a more subtle way that might only be apparent to me. But the starling has become a sort of symbol of myself in my work.
According to birdfy.com, the starling represents transformation and change, the cycle of life, change and adaptability. All qualities that I value in my own life.
Over the years I’ve sketched them in my sketchbook, painted them in oils and acrylic and more recently in collage and mixed media. I’ve painted them perched alone, and featured the murmurations too. I can’t get enough!
Many of these original paintings have sold. But you can check out my available artworks including starlings, garden birds and English landscapes on paintingbeautifulplaces.com
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