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EnchantedLearning.com John James Audubon

White pelican by Audubon.

Audubon's father was a French sea captain; his creole mother died when he was six months old. John James Audubon was born in Les Cayes, Santo Domingo (now Haiti) in 1785.

Audubon grew up and studied art in Nantes, France, then settled in Pennsylvania, USA, as a young man. There, he married Lucy Bakewell and had two sons (Victor and John Woodhouse, who eventually became his assistants). His two daughters died in infancy. Audubon tried operating different types of businesses to support his family, but they all failed. Audubon was sent to debtors prison in 1819. He then returned to art; his passion was painting wildlife in watercolor - especially birds.

In 1827, he published the first of the color plates of "Birds of America." The 435 plates were completed in 1839. The first edition was known as the "elephant folio" because it was so big (39.37 inches high). Audubon then began the series on mammals, "The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America," which he worked on with his friend, the Reverend John Bachman (1790-1874); the first folio of mammals was completed in 1845. Audubon and Bachman completed three volumes of mammals before illness prevented Audubon from working. He died in 1851.

Online Coloring Pages:

Audubon Coloring Page: Red Hooded Duck A coloring page based on John James Audubon's "Red Hooded Duck." Or paint it online.

Audubon Coloring Page: Swan A coloring page based on John James Audubon's "Common American Swan." Or paint it online.

Audubon Coloring Page: White Pelican A coloring page based on John James Audubon's "White Pelican." Or paint it online.

References:
A page on Audubon from audubon.org.
A page on Audubon with links to many of his works.

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