Hummingbird Collection	As the worlds smallest bird, the Hummingbird has a fierce constitution that belies its fragile appearance. The Aztecs believed they were the transformed souls of brave warriors killed in battle. The tiny bird has also been worshipped as a symbol of love, joy and magic. They have escaped the endangered species category due in part to suburban backyard feeders. I find it ironic that the same civilization that is saving them with backyard feeders is destroying their natural habitat to make the backyard. These paintings explore this paradoxical relationship between Nature and Civilization using the elements of scale and color.