{ On the Acceptance of Contradiction }

For birds — cakes, pies, cookies and candies are a contradiction. They do not belong together. Birds do not eat desserts. They eat seeds, fruits and insects. Maybe a small rodent.

John James Audubon was also a contradiction. Yes, his name is associated with the environment and the preservation of wildlife, but he actually killed thousands of birds in his lifetime — to study, pose and paint.

Contradiction plays a very important role in the collaborative art of Dora Dylanne Reyes and Edgar Allan Slothman. Edgar set out with the goal of reinterpreting all of Audubon’s Birds of America prints (435) in his modern, graphic art style. Dora, a former professional baker, began watercolor painting during the Covid quarantines — creating likenesses in her studio of what she would bake in her kitchen.

When the two met, there was an instant mutual appreciation for each others art. But it didn’t take long for Dora to say, “Why are you putting a fish in its mouth?! Let’s give that Florida Cormorant a nice slice of Black Forest Cheesecake!” And there the contradiction began. And a new quasi-utopian life for these classically-illustrated birds. Yes, Audubon would be rolling over in his grave.

With their Birds & Desserts series, the artists want viewers to question the expected and embrace the contradictions of life. It’s OK to accept, and even believe in, fantasy.

Birds & Desserts has been exhibited and shared with universities, libraries and galleries in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Their Dali/ Lollipop piece was recently published in the Communication Arts 66th Illustration Annual, the most exclusive major illustration competition in the world. Of the 2,867 entries submitted to the competition, only 110 were selected by a jury of respected creative professionals.

Accept contradiction. Accept Birds & Desserts.











No. 17 ... African Grey Parrot (Gumball Machine)






No. 73, Plate CCCLXIII ... Bohemian Waxwing (Strawberry Filled Hard Candy)





No. 87, Plate CCCCXXXL ... American Flamingo (Key Lime Pie)





No. 19 ... Barn Owl (Cherry Pie) Twin Peaks, David Lynch





No. 22 ... Sandhill Crane (Napoleon) 





No. 35, Plate CLXXI ... Barn Owl (Cannoli)





No. 20 ... Mountain Bluebird (Rock Candy)





Great Egret (Vanilla Cupcake)





No. 15 ... Rock Dove (Ice Cream Bar)





No. 16 ... Woodpeckers (Red Velvet Layer Cake)





No. 50, Plate CCXLIX ... Tufted Auk (CC Cookie)





No. 32, Plate CLIX ... Cardinal Grosbeak (Whoopie Pie)





No. 32, Plate CLIX ... Cardinal Grosbeak - Female (Red Velvet Cookie)





No. 21, Plate CII ... Blue Jay (PB Cookie)





No. 09 ... Emperor Penguin (Strawberry Shortcake ice cream bar)





No. 51, Plate CCLI ... Florida Cormorant (Blackforest Cheesecake)





No. 54, Plate CCLXVI ... Common Cormorant (Apple Pie)





No. 32, Plate CLVI ... American Crow (Strawberry Shortcake)





No. 18 ... Great Carolina Wren (Peach Pie)





No. 21 ... Baltimore Oriole (Rock Candy)





No. 3, Plate 13 ... Snow Bird (Popsicle)





No. 23 ... Grey and Lutino Cockatiel (Blondie Caramel Sundae)





No. 75. Plate CCCLXXII ... Common Buzzard (Peeps)




No. 11, Plate VI ... Black Vulture (Dirt Cake/Gummie Worms)





No. 05  ...  Brown Pelican  (Flan)





Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Macaron)  for Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee





Resplundant Quetzal (Affogato)for Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee





Toco Toucan (Peruvian Alfajores) for Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee





No. 07 ... Black Swan (Banana Split Sundae)





No. 08 ... Common Raven (Hostess Twinkie)





No. 06 ... Secretary Bird (Candy Necklace)





08.22.23 ... Secretary Bird (PopTart)





No. 1, Plate IV ...  Purple Finch (Gingerbread House)





No. 14 ... Tufted Titmouse (Snowflake Sugar Cookie)





No. 7, Plate 33 ... Goldfinch (Tiramisu)





No. 09 ... European Bee-eater (Affogato with Biscotti)





No. 30. Plate CXLVIII ... Pine-Swamp Warbler (4 cakes)





No. 10. Plate 47 ... Ruby-throated Humming Bird (Spritz Cookie)





No. 12 ... A tribute to Tao LaBossiere (Tao’s Caramel Tree Throne Crunch)






No. 73. Plate CCCLXII ... Stellers Jay





No. 38, Plate CCCCXXXVI ... Audubon Park (Chocolate Fountain)




No. 4, Plate 17 ... Carolina Pigeon (Banana Pudding)




No. 32, Plate CLIX ... Cardinal Grosbeak (Red Velvet Lava Cake)





No. 40. Plate CCCCXXXVIII ... House Sparrow (Bomb Pop) 




No. 55, Plate CCLXXI ... Frigate Pelican (Lemon Meringue Pie)





No. 10, Plate 40 ... Barred Owl (Petit Four)





No. 30, Plate CXLVIII ... Pine Swamp Warbler (Chocolate Cake)





No. 44, Plate CCXVII ... Louisiana Heron (King Cake)





No. 25, Plate CXXL ... Snowy Owt (Jello Mold)





03.05.23 ... American Robin (Strawberry Roulade)





No. 39, Plate CCCCXXXVII ... Freaks (Cotton Candy)





Le grand Oiseau de Paradis, Jacques Barraband ... (Gummi Bears)





No. 41, Plate CCCCXXXVII ... Lovebird (Donuts)





11.26.2022 ... Trumpeter Swan (Linzer Cookie)





No. 26, Plate CXXX ... Yellow-Winged Sparrow (Rugelach)





No. 59, Plate CCXCI ... Herring Gull (Madeleines ) 





No. 84, Plate CCCCXVII ... Maria’s Woodpecker/Canadian Woodpecker
(Red Velvet Cake)




No. 35, Plate CLXXI ... Barn Owl (S’more)




No. 66, Plate CCCXXVIII ... Long-legged Avocet (Panna Cotta)





No. 85, Plate CCCCXV ... Columbian Humming Bird (Hummingbird Cake)





No. 215, Plate CII ... Blue Jay (Cherry Milkshake)





No. 13, Plate LXII ... Passenger Pigeon (Wedding Cake)

No. 25, Plate CXXV ... Brown-headed Nuthatch (Rainbow Twisty)

No. 1, Plate I ... Wild Turkey (Pumpkin Pie) 

No. 20, Plate XCVI ... Columbia Jay (Candy Hearts)





No. 86, Plate CCCXXVI ... California Vulture (Cupcake)





No. 57, Plate CCLXXXI ... Great White Heron (Bueberry Pie)





No. 15, Plate LLXXIV ... Indigo Bird (Rainbow Cake)





No. 14, Plate LXVI ... Ivory-Billed Woodpecker (Macarons)





No. 49, Plate CCXLIV ... Common Gallinule (Cake Icing)





Dracula Parrot/Pesquet's Parrot (Candy Apple)





No. 23, Plate CXL ... Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper (Donut) 





No. 34, Plate CCCCXVIX ... Hairy Woodpecker (Fruitcake) 





No. 87, Plate CCCCXXXIILIX ... Burrowing Owl + (Tootsie Pop)