As I learned about North American wildlife, finding that several species of blue jays existed excited me. The classical blue jay of the eastern U.S. is one of my favorites, but the Steller's jay, so typical of the Rockies and the West, is even more attractive because of its deep blue body and dark brown head. I will never forget the excitement I felt when I saw one for the first time in Yellowstone. I also fell in love with the yellow lichens you see everywhere on the old dead pine trees in the West. The harmonious combination of the yellow lichens and the blue bird was begging to be painted. - CB