Caring for Birds While Managing an Art Business: A Slice of My Life

Earlier this week, I went on a gallery dash, coordinating multiple pick-ups and drop-offs across town while making sure Chewy-TooToo was safe and cared for. The planning actually began the day before, when I called galleries to coordinate times, explaining that I couldn’t make the originally requested slots because I was traveling from my city, about half an hour to an hour away and thus coordinating efficiently. Careful coordination was essential to make the day run smoothly — especially since Chewy-TooToo had a 2:30 PM vet appointment for his collar fitting.

Juggling the set up of pet portrait displays and pet life!

I was naturally concerned about him injuring himself while learning to fly with the collar on, but I trusted that the vet, and ultimately God, would guide the process. Watching him fly with it on was a true relief and even a little surprising — he handled it beautifully, although there are still significant changes to be made, for him to adjust to this new way of negotiating his surroundings!

Amid that, I managed all the artwork logistics. I picked up my human portrait, Bola!, from the Artist Circle show and delivered it to the Arts Pacific juried exhibition at the Aldergrove Kinsman Community Centre (Sept 25–Nov 17). I also dropped off another finished piece at the Inspired Arts Gallery @ CLA (Sept 28–Nov 25). Along the way, I handled a pet portrait swap to propose a rotating display at the vet hospital — Chewy-TooToo came along in his little carrier for all the trips and handled it like a champ.

Dropping of Bola! at the Arts Pacific Juried Exhibition in Aldergrove

I suppose it’s not common every day to meet someone who is both an aviculturist and an artist, and yet, for me, caring for birds and creating art go hand in hand. Whether it’s making sure my flock is safe and happy, or sharing the joy of timeless pet portraits with others, both are acts of love, attention, and purpose.

If you’d like to see more of my pet portraits in action — or bring a custom portrait into your home — check out my online shop or reach out to discuss a commission.

While waiting at the vet, I had a great conversation with the staff and left a framed puppy portrait and rack cards. They were excited about the possibility of a display and immediately set up a follow-up meeting for the next day with the manager. That meeting went wonderfully, and now I’m waiting for board approval to establish a rotating display of my artwork alongside my rack cards in their waiting area — a step that could help me connect directly with my ideal clients and build trust in person.

Through all this — multitasking, traveling, caring for my birds, and managing art logistics — I realized a deeper truth: trusting God allows us to move through life confidently, even with multiple responsibilities, but with the strength to reject the temptation to worry about it all.

It’s not wishful thinking to know that all will go well with our future. As a believer in Jeshua, I don’t have to live with fear, doubt, or the expectation that something bad is about to happen. God calls us to move from one task to the next with confidence, knowing that He is with us and will never leave us or forsake us because His love for us is always on full blast. Whether I’m trying to prevent Chewy-TooToo from injuring himself, meeting deadlines for gallery drop-offs/pick-ups, or coordinating new opportunities, I can hold my head high, trusting that He is guiding me along the path He has called me to walk.

Every moment of life becomes richer when lived with that kind of trust — when care, cuteness, and creativity are infused with peace, and not with anxiety. And alongside that level of trust, the day still requires attention to all the details of my life and work. Currently, my schedule of caring for birds and art also includes staying on top of my female lovebird sitting on five (dummy) eggs — making sure she doesn’t get too aggressive, keeping nesting materials away as she goes through her cycle, and monitoring the rest of the flock who are currently extra frisky, often jumping all over me as soon as I let them out for fly time. Sometimes mitigating hormonal activity means adjusting food or activity and researching about mitigation techniques, all the while keeping an eye on Chewy-TooToo and progressing in my art business. It’s a lot to think about, but caring well for them is a full-time, joyful responsibility alongside my art.

Key takeaways from this day:

• Planning ahead and coordinating responsibilities ensures smoother days, especially when juggling multiple commitments.

• Paying close attention to the needs of those in your care — like Chewy-TooToo — is an act of love and stewardship.

• Every small step, even when busy or unpredictable, can reflect God’s guidance in our lives.

• Life with faith is about moving forward confidently, not out of fear, but from knowing He is always with us.

• Being both an aviculturist and an artist may not be common, but both roles teach lessons in patience, attention, and love that enrich all areas of life.

  
  

If you enjoyed this glimpse into a day in my life, I’d love to share more behind-the-scenes stories — from caring for my feathered friends to delivering art to galleries. Check out my pet portrait offerings, follow along on social media (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook) for daily updates, or subscribe to my newsletter to never miss a studio update!