The official state bird may be the mockingbird, and the official city bird may be the peacock. But the long-necked flamingo is the bird that most people associate with Florida.
In peacock-centric Winter Park — and across the U.S. — pink flamingos have taken on a special significance as symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire’s vivid cover image of a wading pink flamingo is created from meticulously torn bits of hand-painted paper, delicately assembled to form a collage.
A Signature Member of the National Collage Society, St. Hilaire has won numerous awards, and is an acknowledged master of the medium. Last year she released a book, Painted Paper Art Workshop, describing her process. Published by North Light Books, it’s available in bookstores and online.
But if you order the book through St. Hilaire’s website, you’ll get one that’s “hand printed.” That is, St. Hilaire will paint her hand and imprint it on the inside front page along with her signature.
Born and raised in New England, St. Hilaire has lived in Central Florida for more than 20 years. She holds a BFA in advertising design from Syracuse University, and travels the country giving workshops on collage art.
To see her portfolio and read her blog, visit paperpaintings.com. St. Hilaire is also an Elite Blogger for Growing Bolder, the multimedia company that celebrates aging with passion and purpose. That blog is at paperpaintings.growingbolder.com.