Byron Birdsall, one of Alaska's most renowned watercolorists, died Sunday at his home on Whidbey Island at age 78. His wife, Billie, said the cause of death was heart failure.
Birdsall was known for his watercolors depicting Alaska scenes, including panoramic landscapes.
His output was prolific during his 50 years as a professional painter. Tennys Owens, owner of Artique Ltd., and Birdsall's exclusive representative for 30 years, said the number of paintings he produced in that time was somewhere in the thousands. He embraced prints early on, making his works affordable, accessible and ubiquitous throughout the city.
"He was so in love with what he did, and he did it so well," Owens said in a phone interview Monday. "It was just so joyful to him."
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Some samples of his art HERE.