Featured Artist: Birdhism

Artist Jennifer Budrock resides in Florida with her sweet little pet, Cody the Lovebird. She creates adorable “Chubby Bird” designs which are inspired by her passion for birds and Cody. Read on to find out more of Jennifer’s dream to help fund Birds of Paradise Sanctuary & Rescue.

Where is home?

Sunrise, Florida, USA

What is your creative weapon of choice?

Adobe Illustrator and pencil and paper

Please describe your work in 7 words or less

Kawaii bean-shaped birds. Helping birds and selling cute bird stuff.

Please share the story behind your own favorite artwork on Redbubble.

The Everybirdy mug. The Chubby Bird collection is a labor of love. Yes, they’re simple bird shapes, but I spent a lot of time staring at references and I try to simplify the shape but being as true to the species as possible. It takes a lot of time and I put a lot of love into each bird. The collection on one piece is the whole gang together, including a few special needs birds. Gotta be inclusive.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Veterinarian. I was raised around a variety of critters in upstate, NY.

What’s been the hardest lesson you’ve learned while creating a successful art career? What advice would you love to have told yourself five or ten years ago? 

Be prepared to work hard. Don’t expect anything to be handed to you. Find reliable, honest people and cherish them. It’s ok to ask for help. Let chronically toxic people go. Recognize your faults and learn how to overcome them through self-help and motivational books. Keep reading. Learn from those that are doing what you’d like to do. Challenge yourself. Write your ideas down when you get them because you’ll probably forget them later.

What role do you feel artists have in society?

They have more power than they realize.

If you weren’t making art, what do you think you would you be doing now?

I’d still be doing the bird rescue and education side of it, but I don’t think I’d have as much of an impact without the help of Chubby Bird designs.

What has been the most challenging experience you’ve had during your artist journey?

Learning the business side of things. Staying focused.

What is your dream project?

I want to make plushies of all the chubby birds for bird lovers to enjoy.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist?

If you have a passion in life that you enjoy even if it exhausts you, keep on that path, and figure out how to make it work.

Professionally, what is your goal?

I’m hoping Birdhism will be profitable enough to sustain a bird rescue and sanctuary without having to rely solely on donations. I didn’t choose the bird life, the bird life chose me.

What artwork are you excited to work on next?

I’ll be super happy when I finish up the Birdhism Sticker pack and submit it to Facebook and Apple. I’m also working on a Bird Care with Nurse Cody book that will teach people how to bring up happy healthy bird through the power of cute. Happy pet parents make for happy pet kids.

Stop by Jennifer Budrock’s Birdhism shop and support an independent artist and some chubby birds.