I'm trying to find some examples of work by artists who paint animals (or reptiles or insects) that are usually considered dangerous but are portrayed sympathetically. For instance work that is more focused on showing the beauty of a coral snake rather than on the danger it presents. I'm trying to do some work on this topic myself and am hoping to get some perspective. Another example I can think of is that hawks kill chickens and cats which makes them very unpopular with some people but hawks are also beautiful and majestic. I've had a hard time exploring this theme on-line and at the library and thought that someone who has studied art my be able to point me in the right direction. I guess what I want to show is the vulnerability of creatures not usually perceived as vulnerable.

Good topic; I think you will find that any nature artist of the last few decades is sympathetic to birds of prey, poisonous snakes and insects, wolves and other animals who serve a place in nature. I only know of deviantart.com and artistsites.org, where you can search all sorts of art by category.

Did you ask for help at the library? I would have thought a reference librarian would have grabbed onto this question like it is a meaty bone (speaking of predators... ).

Here is this one:

Lindsey Foggett Profile

Art Naturally presents the wildlife art of Lindsey Foggett

And

Biography of Artist Daniel Toledo - Exquisite Gold Wildlife Jewelry, Sculpture, Paintings, Scr

Daniel Toledo - Paintings - Nature Art - Wildlife Art

I'll do a WorldCat search for you, if you wish.