Bruce Balfour Great Blue Heron Portrait Study

Bruce Balfour was always the quiet one. When he did speak, he'd say he could hear music: in the fiddleheads as they began to unfurl; in the undulating currents of the river; in the sun as it gently carressed the pebbles of his footpaths. He could hear the heartbeat of the forest.

As Bruce Balfour grew older, he longed to join the chorus, but his stucatto call didn't mirror the depth and subtlety of sounds that surrounded him. His was not the solemn cry of the loon, nor the melodic song of the whippoorwill. But he had an idea: in a shoppe window, Bruce spotted a beautiful old goldenrod-and-umber button-accordion. He felt its colour set off the blue of his feathers nicely; the quirky warble of the music it produced: just perfect.

These days, Bruce is never without his accordion, playing all that he hears. No two melodies are alike; all are completely unknown, yet hauntingly familiar.

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Portrait Study, 8x10” or 9x12” in protective cello. Each Portrait Study is accompanied by a whimsical tale of the animal featured. Entirely collectible, the stories intertwine, creating a much-loved community of characters. We print on a luxurious 318 gsm, 100% cotton paper. Soft and durable, this paper showcases crisp detail and vibrant colour.

We donate a portion of gross sales to animal welfare.