Arthur Bernard Singer (1917 – 1990)

I was aware of Singer’s work in part from his illustrations in Oliver Austin’s grandly entitled Birds of the World, published in 1961, in which there appeared a colour illustration by Singer of at least one representative of every bird family then recognized, which endeared it to me with my hunger to learn about exotic bird species. I also saw many of his illustrations featuring official State birds, flowers, and trees, plus his work in various bird guides. Singer was a well-regarded and very professional artist whose style was extremely popular, often featuring original poses and composition. But I can’t say I was much influenced by it, finding that with a few exceptions his art, while decorative, failed to show the textures of plumage accurately, or that all-elusive “essence” of the species portrayed. Unlike some artists far more influential to me, Singer was able to earn a living as a portrayer of birds.