Posts Tagged ‘Huel Howser’
Artist Biography
"Jewel of Nature"
"Pastel Cat"
An accomplished artist, author and public speaker, Monique Rea received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from the Laguna College of Art and Design. Monique resides in San Juan Capistrano, California with her husband, Charles, two cats, Brio & Catarina, a Coctatiel, Professor Higgins and Mustang horse, Hawk.
She authored and illustrated the children’s book “The Original Story of Toulouse the Moose and His Friends.” Her second children’s storybook, “Toulouse the Moose and the Mystery Guests” will be available soon. Monique illustrated a children’s educational publication “Visiting the Past” and the video jacket of Huel Howser’s “Swallows of Mission San Juan Capistrano.” The Capistrano Dispatch newspaper features her comic strip “The Adventures of Toulouse the Moose.” Monique illustrated and produced a coloring book “Faces from the Past” for the Mission San Juan Capistrano Living History Society. In addition, she designed the Mission San Juan Capistrano’s Christmas card and Swallows’ Day Festival event publications, which included artwork, posters and T-shirts. She and her husband were elected the dignitaries Senor and Ms San Juan for the celebration of the 50th Year of the Swallows’ Day Parade of San Juan Capistrano. Monique was honored to be named Woman of the Year by the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce 2011.
Monique’s love of nature and whimsy can be found in her artwork, primarily painting, drawing and writing. She expresses her love of animals and appreciation of their special place on earth through her art. Her hummingbird & swallow artwork is inspired through her dedicated work as a hummingbird & swallow rescuer.
She has exhibited at the San Clemente Art Gallery and been commissioned for artwork.
Check out Monique’s SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.
Discover, Listen & Dream
Monique F. Rea
Cliff Swallows (Huel)
- “Cliff Swallow”
Monique F. Rea Copyright 2010
Huel Howser used this drawing of the Cliff Swallow for the video jacket of his, ”Swallows of Mission San Juan Capistrano” video. The drawing is on the cover of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society’s new book, “Swallows Legend and Facts,” by Don Tryon.
The drawing is mixed media, watercolor, pen and ink to illustrate a Cliff Swallow at it’s nest colony site. These special insect eating birds migrate 6,000 plus miles from South America to North America to build their gourd shaped mud nests in order to lay their eggs and raise their Swallow nestlings. The city of San Juan Capistrano is one of many locations they return to each year. The scouts begin to arrive at the end of February in Southern California. The rest follow soon after. The Cliff Swallow species is the only one that builds the mud gourd shaped nest. It takes hundreds of mud pellets to patiently construct one nest and many, many trips back and forth from their mud source. They can have 2-3 broods in the season depending on the food supply in the area. They begin their long journey back to South America beginning in September from San Juan Capistrano. The further north they are the earlier they begin. Eating as many bugs, insects for the long journey back. Always look upon these beautiful birds as beneficial guests to be treated with respect and gratitude.
I have posted a tribute to a Cliff Swallow under the category, “Tribute to Swallows”