There are a few key channels that often feature shows about painting birds and other wildlife art. Some of the most popular options include PBS, Create TV, and Smithsonian Channel. PBS in particular has a number of acclaimed painting shows that depict birds through art.
PBS
PBS likely has more painting bird shows than any other network. Some of their most popular programs focusing on wildlife painting include:
- Plein Air: Painting the American Landscape
- Big Arts Week
- Painting with Wilson Bickford
- Painting with Paulson
- Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting
Plein Air is one of the most acclaimed PBS painting shows. It captures artists painting landscapes and natural scenery on location outdoors. Birds are commonly depicted in the artwork. Big Arts Week is another stellar program that features some of the top painters across the country live. Many showcase bird paintings. Painting with Wilson Bickford is hosted by one of the leading wildlife artists today who is known for his striking bird paintings. Paulson also displays a range of wildlife and bird artwork on his instructional show. And Bob Ross painted various birds like blue jays and eagles on his iconic program.
Create TV
While smaller than PBS, Create TV is a network dedicated to crafts, DIY projects, and art. They feature various painting programs including:
- Painting with Paulson
- Journeys in Watercolor
- Sharon Sprung Painting Workshop
- Portrait Painting Workshop
As mentioned under PBS, Painting with Paulson often depicts vivid birds throughout the instructional show. Journeys in Watercolor and Sharon Sprung Painting Workshop will also sometimes feature birds in landscape paintings or up close portraits. Portrait Painting Workshop focuses more on human subjects but will occasionally paint other animals like birds too.
Smithsonian Channel
The Smithsonian Channel offers documentaries and shows related to art, nature, and history. Some of their programs that blend art with wildlife include:
- The Mighty Mississippi
- Cuba’s Wild Revolution
- America in Color
These Smithsonian documentaries use stunning footage and artistic cinematography to depict nature and landscapes across America and beyond. Birds are frequently captured up close or shown flying over rivers, marshes, and other environments. The beautiful videography has an artistic quality as well.
Other Notable Channels
Beyond the major channels listed above, there are a few other networks that occasionally air painting bird programs and wildlife art shows as well. This includes:
- Discovery Channel
- Travel Channel
- BYUtv
Discovery Channel most notably aired a series called American Eagle where host Ross Shram painted wildlife scenes focusing on eagles. Meanwhile, Travel Channel has featured shows like Mysteries at the Museum that go behind the scenes of famous art and artifacts, sometimes including bird paintings. BYUtv also aired a limited wildlife painting series called Painting the Wild Frontier depicting birds and other animals.
Notable Painting Bird Programs and Episodes
Beyond whole shows dedicated to painting birds and other wildlife, there are also individual episodes and specials across networks worth highlighting:
- Nature: Birds of the Gods – PBS special that followed expedition painters capturing exotic birds.
- Secret Life of Birds: Painting Bird Adventure – BBC documentary episode where host captures unique bird behaviors through art.
- Wild Obsession: Bird Painting in Colorado – Travel Channel episode highlighting painter who only depicts birds.
Public television clearly offers the most shows actually showcasing painters creating bird artwork. But other networks provide one-off specials or episodes that dive into unique bird painting subjects as well. Nature documentaries in particular, even if not focused solely on painting, will often feature beautiful cinematography of birds that borders on artistic visuals.
Conclusion
In summary, the top channels featuring shows about painting birds include PBS, Create TV, and Smithsonian Channel. PBS provides a huge library of painting programs that commonly depict various species of birds through instructional shows and documentaries. Meanwhile, Create TV features art-focused programming spotlighting bird paintings. And Smithsonian delivers stunning nature documentaries capturing birds cinematically. Beyond these public television networks, other channels like Discovery, Travel Channel, and BYUtv have aired specials dedicated to bird artwork subjects too. There is wonderful programming available that combines painting with depicting the beauty of birds.