Welcome. I’m Tara Kate—illustrator, observer, and daily sketcher of birds, places, and moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. The Painted Redstart is a quiet creative space, shaped by stillness, curiosity, and the gentle ritual of drawing what I see.
This newsletter is part sketchbook, part reflection—filled with bird portraits, urban sketches, and hand-drawn comics that speak to the rhythm of ordinary days. I share what I’m learning through my art: how to look closely, how to be present, and how to stay in relationship with the world around me.
Drawing is how I listen. It’s how I mark the passing of time, how I pay attention, how I stay grounded when life moves too fast.
Here you’ll find:
Illustrations of birds and nature in ink, watercolor, and mixed media
Sketches from everyday life—from parking lots to pilgrimages
Comics about birds, daily life, and nature
Gentle invitations to notice more and draw more
Whether you draw, birdwatch, journal, or simply love noticing beauty in the everyday, I hope this space feels like a small breath of calm. You’re warmly invited to walk with me—one line, one page, one day at a time.
Come for the birds, stay for the brushstrokes.
Start Here
If you're new here, welcome. These posts offer a good first look at what I share here: birds, urban sketching, quiet comics, and the art of noticing. I hope they feel like an open door.
Bird Illustration
I Painted a Portrait of the World’s Most Hated Bird — In this post, I share a watercolor and ink portrait of a remarkable bird. It’s a window into how I observe and connect with the wild creatures I draw.Urban Sketching
Urban Sketching in Panama — This is a sketchbook story from my time in Panama—drawn on location, full of color and motion. It’s one of the ways I stay present while traveling: pen in hand, heart open.Comics
Comic: Fluffy’s Day Out — Here I explore a controversial topic in avian ecology: the effects of house cats on birds. It’s an example of how artists can partner with scientists to educate people about bird conservation.Art Practice and Process
Can Doubts and Insecurities Make You a Better Artist? — In this reflective piece, I explore how uncertainty and self-doubt often creep into the creative process—and how they can actually be useful. It's a candid look at perseverance, learning to lean into discomfort, and transforming insecurity into fuel for art-making.
Why go paid?
Your support helps me keep making art and sharing these bird-filled, nature-soaked, sketchbook-driven stories with the world. In return, paid subscribers receive:
✏️ Exclusive sketchbook spreads and behind-the-scenes process posts
🐦 Deeper dives into bird anatomy and drawing tips I’ve picked up from hours of feather-gazing
📬 Occasional digital goodies — reference photos, wallpapers, or drawing prompts
💖 The satisfaction of supporting independent art that celebrates attention, observation, and wonder
A little more about me
I have a Ph.D. in biology and I use my knowledge of ecology and behavior to create illustrations of birds that depict intimate moments in their lives. I also love telling stories through comics as well as sketching on location.
My illustration work is focused on natural history of birds where I create meticulous and highly detailed images for books, scientific publications, and popular press. My work has been featured in journal articles published in Frontiers in Bird Science, Peer J, and Ecology and Evolution as well as Birding, Uppercase magazine, and Jesuit Media Lab.
You can purchase stickers and original art here.
Want to learn how to draw birds? Take my online class.
