"Purpose in Every Move" Original Hummingbird Painting

Size: 15 x 11 inches

Medium:  Aerosol, Acrylic & Oil on Watercolor Paper (unframed)

Artist Signature: On the bottom right

Artist: Hand painted by San Francisco Bay Area artist John Osgood

Year: 2024 as part of the Birduary Series

John's Inspiration

I love all my paintings—they’re like my kids. But let’s be honest: every parent has a favorite, and out of the 15 Birduary pieces on watercolor paper, this one holds a special place in my heart.

Creating it was part of a long, layered process. I worked on this piece alongside several others, starting with two, then three, and eventually juggling up to 30 paintings at once. It’s my usual way of working—I like having a lot around me, shifting between watercolor, acrylic, spray paint, collage, and oil. But there was something special about this one.

Maybe it’s because I had just wrapped up a large wood-panel painting of flowers and birds, full of shadowy, restful spaces. Or maybe it’s the way this piece seemed to pull together everything I love about painting—movement, color, texture. It just clicked for me. I’m already planning to revisit it for upcoming art fairs in San Francisco.

The title, Purpose in Every Move, reflects not only my process but also the spirit of the hummingbird. Like them, I rarely make a mark or decision that doesn’t contribute to the bigger picture. Hummingbirds are masters of efficiency, expending so much energy but always in a way that sustains them. They remind me that every move, no matter how small, has its purpose.