He was the first.

No, not the first bird in the world. Nor even the first American Goldfinch in town. But he was the first to ask for his portrait. And that was a first for me, too.

You’ll know it when you see him — the way he pauses in between rest and flight, yellow and still, just at the edge of the frame. The way his gaze falls not on you, but on something behind you. Maybe an old painting. Maybe the wall itself. Maybe the memory of having his portrait painted in my studio.

This print is not just of a bird. It is the beginning of a relationship. A beginning marked by me earning his trust and in turn, me trusting myself. His perch became his sitting wall. And I, sitting at my easel, was transformed. The arrival of a solitary goldfinch shifted something fundamental, that has rearranged my work forever.

About the Artwork

Each museum-quality print is made with archival pigment inks on archival acid-free, semi-gloss paper. The texture holds every detail — from the glint in Élian’s eye to the delicate tension in his wings. The edition is limited.

This is Élian’s portrait, yes — but it is also an open invitation.

What You Are Buying: A fine art print of Élian, the First to Ask.

This print is professionally printed on 12" by 12" museum-quality semi-gloss paper. Image size is 10" by 10", with a 1" white border on all sides. Free delivery in the USA. 30-Day. No-Quibble Returns.

Why This Print Matters

You’re not buying a picture of a bird. You’re stepping into the beginning of a conversation between worlds.

This is where it began. Not just the painting — but the whole thing:

The Rosy Finches who followed. The Owls who remember. The Raven Knight who returns from his crusades. The Red Tail Hawk who ate one of my sitters.

Élian's portrait won’t speak to you outright. But if you spend time with it — quiet time — it might wait beside you. And if you’ve ever failed at mixing yellow, or watched something small hover like a thought you hadn’t yet heard, you’ll understand.

Collector’s Note

Each print helps keep the portrait series alive. These stories take time. The paint is slow. The birds are patient. And the wall is always watching.

Thank you for considering making room in your home for a moment like this.