Chickadee and Thistle

Fidelia Bridges was an American artist of the late 19th century. She was known for delicately detailed paintings that captured flowers, plants, and birds in their natural settings. Although she began as an oil painter, she later gained a reputation as an expert in watercolor painting. She was the only woman among a group of seven artists in the early years of the American Watercolor Society. Her watercolor paintings of nature scenes were displayed in homes across the country, published as illustrations in books and magazines and on greeting cards. Bridges created a successful business from what was usually a hobby.