Birds of Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park
This project began with a simple idea: to create realistic, beautifully crafted coloring pages that inspire children and teenagers to discover and appreciate the birds of local region.
The story behind it. During the bird-racing at Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, both experienced birdwatchers and children observed birds, and the children later participated in a drawing competition.The kids were full of enthusiasm, yet some of the youngest participants only managed to sketch a simple pencil outline. That moment made me realize something important: I wanted every child (and adult, too!) — to have the chance to create their own artwork. A true, personal creation where a chosen bird comes to life under their colors, guided by a carefully prepared outline.
About
Presented here are paintings by amateur artist, photographer Anna Ratkevich, based on her personal observations of the primary forests in Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Lam Dong, Vietnam from 2015 to 2025.
Botanical illustration or illustrative painting?
A nature photographer or just a tourist does not always have time to capture all the moods and amazing moments with a camera or phone. This cycle of paintings became the creative result — a symbiosis of live communication with nature and photography.
The desire to thoroughly convey the beauty and uniqueness of the local ancient forests inspires the author to further explore this world from within. Like pieces of a mosaic, the image of Bidoup Nui Ba is formed from paintings, representing a part of it that is accessible not only to biologists but also to ordinary tourists. The author introduces the viewer to endemics, rare species, and simply amazing forest creatures, and through her artworks, she calls for a careful attitude towards local nature. The paintings present forest dwellers in a naturalistic way, set in their natural environment. The slightly fairy-tale "filter" that the author uses is an integral part of her vision and the feelings that the primary forest evokes. The series of works will continue; the source of inspiration is always refreshed with new observations and has a vast stock of old ones.