Welcome to Pinion Paints & Prints! I am the artist and owner, Maya Prestipino. As a self-taught artist and serial hobbyist, it's been my dream for years to sell my own art. Online, I offer my signature landscape paintings in acrylic on turkey feathers. In-person, I offer these same paintings plus my other favorite art form, linocut prints.
About the art
I work in acrylic paint to capture the essence of a landscape on my favorite canvas: turkey feathers. My feathers are sourced from my community, usually by loved ones who have successfully harvested a turkey. I take and use primarily the flight feathers (pinions) from the wing, and sometimes the largest feathers from the tail. I do not work on feathers from any other species of bird for two reasons: access to material, and legal protections.
The landscapes I depict are also sourced from my community. Almost every reference I use is from either my own camera or my own brain, though I sometimes ask loved ones for permission to use their images.
Each feather is carefully chosen for each subject; I'm very picky about what shapes and quirks may complement a certain subject. I begin each painting by laying down a layer of acrylic paint to first lock the feather's overall shape in place and ensure it doesn't move while I paint. I use Golden's Open line of acrylics for the slower drying time, as I like to work with very thin layers of paint and prefer working alla prima. Due to the nature of the medium, these artworks are completely one-of-a-kind. They can't be scanned or printed, no subjects are repeated, and each feather is different. That means if you choose to buy a piece of mine, you are the sole owner of not only the original piece, but the one and only copy of that piece.
About the artist
I am a lifelong artist and outdoorswoman born in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia. My love for the outdoors led me to study environmental science in college, work several seasonal jobs in outdoor recreation, and eventually work full-time in Nevada. Through this I learned two important things: I love living out west, and I needed more work-life balance than what I would get in the environmental field. When my partner was offered a job in the Bitterroot valley of Montana, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to reset. I now work full-time at the USPS as a rural carrier and have happily regained all the creative energy I had lost over the years. I take this out on almost every hobby imaginable: embroidery, wood burning, illustration, linocut, sewing... but my ultimate love has always been painting.
I started painting turkey feathers in high school when my art teacher brought out a box of feathers and said, "Paint!" It seemed to be a throwaway lesson on unconventional surfaces, but before I knew it, I couldn't stop. My grandfather hunted turkeys religiously, so I always had plenty on hand. I love condensing a landscape onto such an unusual, naturally captivating surface; and I especially love capturing the beauty of the earth within one of its own natural creations. I'm so happy and excited that I'm finally able to share that joy with an audience who may respond in kind. In my art I hope you'll find the reflections of my love for the natural world and the honor I feel to take part in it.
Even though I love my full-time job, it still limits the time I have available for art. As a result, store updates may be slow and unpredictable. The best ways to keep up with my painting releases and commission openings is by signing up for my email list! I promise, I won't be spamming you with quirky life updates - the only emails you will receive will be directly related to whether or not you can get your hands on a piece. You can also follow along my journey, watch my process, and keep up with me on Instagram @pinionpaints. See you there!