Yellowknife artist Shawna Lampi-Legaree is currently in Australia to have a family reunion with her oldest son. While sheSA国际影视传媒檚 there, she found a perfect reason to keep up with her painting while on the go.

And she has the birds to thank for that.

Lampi-Legaree has been out and about taking photos of various avian species to put together what she calls The Great Australian Bird Adventure. She brought a sketchbook with her to paint a variety of birds based off of the pictures sheSA国际影视传媒檚 taken so far.

She started the project as soon as she arrived SA国际影视传媒� the very first photo she took was a laughing kookaburra, which became the first bird she painted in the sketchbook.

To make sure all the painting supplies didnSA国际影视传媒檛 take up too much of luggage space during travel, she decided to scale down to the sketchbook idea

Lampi-Legaree said the book it is nice and compact and easy to carry, but that can be challenging because she had to work with a smaller-than-normal canvas.

SA国际影视传媒淧artially to keep my up my skills, but then I gain a greater understand of Australian birds through drawing and painting them,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 am sure that continuing to paint will help when I finally do get back to the easel. Maybe I wonSA国际影视传媒檛 feel so rusty.SA国际影视传媒�

By the time sheSA国际影视传媒檚 done, Lampi-Legaree plans to have 27 birds painted throughout her sketchbook and each spread will have a different species of bird.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is going to be very hard to choose which 27 birds to paint (because) there are so many beautiful birds here in Australia,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She plans to continue to paint the birds in Australia SA国际影视传媒� the birds give her a lot of enjoyment, she said SA国际影视传媒� but the main goal is still to enjoy the time with her family.

Lampi-Legaree said she is expecting to complete the book when she retutns home.