David Tomb: Bird Artist

Editor’s Note: David Tomb is one of many talented artists whose work is featured in GGBA’s first ever online bird art auction, which runs from May 17 through June 1, 2020. We hope you will support David, all of our artists and GGBA, by purchasing their beautiful work!

By Melissa Ramos

 

Birds mesmerized David as a child.

His mother often recounted his habit of staring at the Turkey Vultures hanging out in a dead Oak tree behind his childhood home in Oakland. David was particularly fascinated with how the vultures sunned their wings in the early morning sunlight. This rather Gothic image is an indelible memory and certainly was the image that helped spark David’s long career in the arts.

Tufted Jay by David Tomb

David always enjoyed drawing but loved drawing birds especially. This natural fit led him to eventually pursue life as a professional artist when he was an adult. Art making always stuck with him. He studied art in college and put in 20 years as a figurative artist, focusing less on birds. After the tragic events of 9/11, David made promise to himself: he would bird more.

Long-billed Curlew, one of David’s many bird drawings.

His new, intensive birding habit naturally circled back into his art; since 2007, David’s work has focused entirely on birds and conservation.

“Odd Job” (Wagler’s Pit Viper with Mindanao Tarictic Hornbill and Collared Kingfisher)

Like many birders, David’s process begins by going out in the field. He birds as much as he can locally. Observing birds in their natural behaviors is a big inspiration for David’s creative process. He supplements his process by visiting museums, galleries, and reading about birds as much as he can. While contemporary and modern art inspires and informs his work, he also allows birds to guide his content and aesthetics.

Aplomado Falcon by David.

For your viewing pleasure, here’s a gallery of David’s work, highlighted below.

“On Demon Pond” (Collared Kingfishers) painted paper cutout collage
Rufous Hornbill, Collection: US Embassy, Manila, Philippines

 

Thick-billed Parrot by David Tomb

 

Rock and Rockfowl, painted paper cut-out diorama of Ghana rainforest featuring Yellow-headed Picathartes (Rockfowl), 28 feet wide by 12 feet high. Installed at Fresno Art Museum, 2018, Solo exhibition: Rockfowl and other Wonders

 

Installation: Philippine Eagle/Haribon nest, painted cut-out paper diorama, Fresno Art Museum, 2018, 25 feet wide by 12 high

 

Installation detail: Philippine Eagle nest

 

Detail, Picathartes, Rock and Rockfowl.

A major source of David’s inspiration happens to be one of his favorite natural history museums, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley. He also frequents California Academy of Sciences and the Museum of Natural History when he’s in New York. The drawings of birds he sees in these museums are some of the foundations of his paintings. In recent years, David’s work has developed with cut-out collage strategies and paper based installation versions of natural history dioramas, but at a full scale (such as the pieces pictured above).

In all of his art making, David tries to keep things simple and have fun.

Greater Roadrunner, the watercolor painting by David Tomb that is for sale in GGBA’s Online Bird Art Auction

Among his favorite birds include the iconic and critically Endangered Philippine Eagle (formerly known as the Philippine Monkey-eating Eagle). In 2011, David traveled to the Island of Mindanao with several friends to see this legendary beast. They eventually found a year old youngster in a humongous nest after a two day search.

David has been a long time fan and member of Golden Gate Bird Alliance and was happy to help contribute his art to GGBA’s online fundraiser. In his words, “What’s better than helping with Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s mission and getting cool art? Twofer!”


To view all of the works in the GGBA’s Online Bird Art Auction, see goldengatebirdalliance.org/auction. Or click here to go directly to David’s roadrunner painting. 

If you’d like to learn more about David’s art and work, please check out his website and here. You can also follow him on Instagram. David is also passionate about bird conservation, and helped to found his own bird conservation group, Jeepney Projects Worldwide