Art That Bridges the Mythic and the Scientific

Illustrations emerge at the intersection of ecology, wildlife science, and elven‑inspired aesthetics.

A simple black ink drawing of a delicate vine with small, evenly spaced leaves on both sides. The design is minimalist and elegant on a white background.

Mission

Rivendell Bird was founded by Liani, a wildlife ecologist and environmental educator, to explore how art can illuminate the living world. Nature‑based art can create access, connection, and belonging—inviting people into ecosystems they may not otherwise reach.

A smiling cartoon girl with glasses and a ponytail holds a colorful parrot on her finger. She's wearing a blue plaid shirt in a vibrant forest setting.
A simple black ink drawing of a delicate vine with small, evenly spaced leaves on both sides. The design is minimalist and elegant on a white background.

Brand Philosophy

A simple black ink drawing of a delicate vine with small, evenly spaced leaves on both sides. The design is minimalist and elegant on a white background.

Artistic Process

Everyone's artistic journey is as unique as all the leaves on a tree.

Liani’s artwork begins in the field, shaped by direct encounters with plants, animals, and wild places. Each experience leaves an imprint—whether it’s the excitement of discovering a long-sought species, the quiet awe of a new ecosystem, or the familiar calm of returning to landscapes that feel like old friends. From soaring raptors to towering conifers and the subtle rhythms of life and decay, these moments form the emotional core of each piece.

Back at home, Liani revisits these encounters through photographs taken on site, sometimes blending multiple images to recreate the feeling of a moment rather than a single scene. From there, she chooses a visual language—soft watercolor, detailed realism, or something in between—and begins illustrating digitally on her iPad. The process unfolds over days, with intentional pauses to return with fresh eyes and refine each detail.

When the artwork feels complete, the final step is deciding how it should live in the world—what it should be called, and whether it belongs as a print, a tote, or both. Every piece is created digitally, and select works include time-lapse recordings that offer a quiet window into the making of the art itself.

What begins as a fleeting moment in the wild becomes, stroke by stroke, a living illustration—one you can watch unfold in real time.

All artwork is created digitally using an iPad. Time-lapse recordings offer a window into the process.

A simple black line drawing of a vine with small leaves on both sides, curving gently across a white background. The design is minimalist and elegant.

About the Artist

A cartoon-style portrait of a smiling woman with long brown hair and glasses, wearing a light jacket and sweater, sitting in a car. The mood is cheerful and relaxed.

Liani blends ecology and imagination, drawing from fieldwork, wild landscapes, and quiet observation to create art that educates while it enchants.

A woman in sunglasses kneels beside a brown dog on a trail overlooking a wooded valley. She's smiling, and the scene feels peaceful and serene.
Liani hiking with her dog.
A woman with long dark hair and sunglasses smiles near a scenic coastline. Clear blue water, dense green trees on an island, and a bright sky create a calm atmosphere. A red backpack is beside her.
Liani on the sea cliffs near Olympic, Washington.
A woman kneels next to a large tree stump in a forest. She is smiling and pointing excitedly at a banana slug on the stump, surrounded by green ferns.
Liani excited to encounter a banana slug.
A simple black line drawing of a vine with small leaves on both sides, curving gently across a white background. The design is minimalist and elegant.

Inspirations

Rivendell Bird draws inspiration from forests, myth, and literature where nature is sacred.

“He felt a delight in wood and the touch of it… the delight of the living tree itself.” — J.R.R. Tolkien
A person crouches beneath a fallen tree trunk in a forest, surrounded by autumn leaves. They wear a black outfit and a gray beanie, smiling confidently.
Liani surrounded by nature.