Throughout the first half of the 19th century , John James Audubon was America s dominant wildlife artist. Having always drawn birds as a hobby , it wasn t until facing bankruptcy that he decided to embark upon an epic ornithological quest across America with nothing but his artist s materials, an assistant, and a gun. The journey was far from easy, but the dramatic, life-sized bird portraits he produced along the way were an immediate success upon his return. Audubon s legacy continues to this day, particularly in the deep concerns he later voiced for the conservation of the beautiful species he depicted. His seminal work, Birds of America, is one against which 20th and 21st century wildlife artists are still measured.