This painting by Richard Simpson was part of Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show in 2021. 8 x 10 inches. Acrylic on canvas board. Plumage is one of a collection of paintings by Richard Simpson that illustrates the egrets and flamingos that were once hunted in our region. Demand for ladies’ hat feathers was so great in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century that several species of birds were brought to the brink of extinction. Conservationists, aided by Audubon societies, pushed to ban the killing of wild birds for food and fashion and used deputized wardens to protect the rookeries in Florida. Several wardens were killed, possibly murdered, while guarding the birds shown in Mr. Simpson’s works. Fortunately, the introduction of laws to formally protect Florida’s birds and the end of the hat feather industry allowed egrets and flamingos to make a comeback. The birds are enjoyed today by the many tourists who visit the state. Local artists were invited to submit original works of art to Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. Pieces were based on the book 'Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor' by Lindsey Williams and U.S. Cleveland. Submissions were accepted in Fall 2020 and were displayed at the Mid-County Regional Library on February 27, 2021.

This painting by Richard Simpson was part of Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show in 2021. 16 x 20 inches. Acrylic on canvas. Morning Glory is one of a collection of paintings by Richard Simpson that illustrates the egrets and flamingos that were once hunted in our region. Demand for ladies’ hat feathers was so great in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century that several species of birds were brought to the brink of extinction. Conservationists, aided by Audubon societies, pushed to ban the killing of wild birds for food and fashion and used deputized wardens to protect the rookeries in Florida. Several wardens were killed, possibly murdered, while guarding the birds shown in Mr. Simpson’s works. Fortunately, the introduction of laws to formally protect Florida’s birds and the end of the hat feather industry allowed egrets and flamingos to make a comeback. The birds are enjoyed today by the many tourists who visit the state. Local artists were invited to submit original works of art to Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. Pieces were based on the book 'Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor' by Lindsey Williams and U.S. Cleveland. Submissions were accepted in Fall 2020 and were displayed at the Mid-County Regional Library on February 27, 2021.

This painting by Richard Simpson was part of Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show in 2021. 7 x 14 inches. Acrylic on canvas. Resting is one of a collection of paintings by Richard Simpson that illustrates the egrets and flamingos that were once hunted in our region. Demand for ladies’ hat feathers was so great in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century that several species of birds were brought to the brink of extinction. Conservationists, aided by Audubon societies, pushed to ban the killing of wild birds for food and fashion and used deputized wardens to protect the rookeries in Florida. Several wardens were killed, possibly murdered, while guarding the birds shown in Mr. Simpson’s works. Fortunately, the introduction of laws to formally protect Florida’s birds and the end of the hat feather industry allowed egrets and flamingos to make a comeback. The birds are enjoyed today by the many tourists who visit the state. Local artists were invited to submit original works of art to Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. Pieces were based on the book 'Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor' by Lindsey Williams and U.S. Cleveland. Submissions were accepted in Fall 2020 and were displayed at the Mid-County Regional Library on February 27, 2021.

This painting by Richard Simpson was part of Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show in 2021. 10 x 20 inches. Acrylic on canvas. Resting Time is one of a collection of paintings by Richard Simpson that illustrates the egrets and flamingos that were once hunted in our region. Demand for ladies’ hat feathers was so great in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century that several species of birds were brought to the brink of extinction. Conservationists, aided by Audubon societies, pushed to ban the killing of wild birds for food and fashion and used deputized wardens to protect the rookeries in Florida. Several wardens were killed, possibly murdered, while guarding the birds shown in Mr. Simpson’s works. Fortunately, the introduction of laws to formally protect Florida’s birds and the end of the hat feather industry allowed egrets and flamingos to make a comeback. The birds are enjoyed today by the many tourists who visit the state. Local artists were invited to submit original works of art to Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. Pieces were based on the book 'Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor' by Lindsey Williams and U.S. Cleveland. Submissions were accepted in Fall 2020 and were displayed at the Mid-County Regional Library on February 27, 2021.

This painting by Richard Simpson was part of Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show in 2021. 8 x 20 inches. Acrylic on wood. Florida Birds: Flamingos is one of a collection of paintings by Richard Simpson that illustrates the egrets and flamingos that were once hunted in our region. Demand for ladies’ hat feathers was so great in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century that several species of birds were brought to the brink of extinction. Conservationists, aided by Audubon societies, pushed to ban the killing of wild birds for food and fashion and used deputized wardens to protect the rookeries in Florida. Several wardens were killed, possibly murdered, while guarding the birds shown in Mr. Simpson’s works. Fortunately, the introduction of laws to formally protect Florida’s birds and the end of the hat feather industry allowed egrets and flamingos to make a comeback. The birds are enjoyed today by the many tourists who visit the state. Local artists were invited to submit original works of art to Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. Pieces were based on the book 'Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor' by Lindsey Williams and U.S. Cleveland. Submissions were accepted in Fall 2020 and were displayed at the Mid-County Regional Library on February 27, 2021.

This painting by Richard Simpson was part of Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show in 2021. 9 x 12 inches. Acrylic on wood. Morning Glory 2 is one of a collection of paintings by Richard Simpson that illustrates the egrets and flamingos that were once hunted in our region. Demand for ladies’ hat feathers was so great in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century that several species of birds were brought to the brink of extinction. Conservationists, aided by Audubon societies, pushed to ban the killing of wild birds for food and fashion and used deputized wardens to protect the rookeries in Florida. Several wardens were killed, possibly murdered, while guarding the birds shown in Mr. Simpson’s works. Fortunately, the introduction of laws to formally protect Florida’s birds and the end of the hat feather industry allowed egrets and flamingos to make a comeback. The birds are enjoyed today by the many tourists who visit the state. Local artists were invited to submit original works of art to Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. Pieces were based on the book 'Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor' by Lindsey Williams and U.S. Cleveland. Submissions were accepted in Fall 2020 and were displayed at the Mid-County Regional Library on February 27, 2021.