ROYAL TERN STUDIES

 

A small party of Royal Terns were resting on a sandy spit during early winter when I did these studies. There were a mix of Juv and adult birds so I did studies of both. Although there was full sun, the day was cold and windy so the whole flock (along with a few Foster's Terns and Laughing Gulls) were facing into the prevailing breeze. Most were standing but a few were sleeping on the ground with their beaks tucked into their back feathers, black crests splaying in the wind. It was a memorable morning - simply spending time with these birds made it so. Size is about 12 x 9 inches, done in my sketchbook.

MID-DAY MARSH

 

It was late fall when I walked through the marsh close to where we were staying. The grasses had already turned ochre-brown and it was a cold but warming day. Earlier I had sat for awhile sketching then drawing different views looking south before moving on and making studies of this scene. I watched as an approaching Bald Eagle got closer and closer until it flew right over me, through my binoculars I could see that it appeared to be blind in one eye but this didn't seem to bother it - at least not while in flight. It landed in some shallower water and began to bathe. Ducks and geese hastily taking flight as it neared them only to circle around and land back again a little further away.

Looking east, I decided to do a painting looking across a slightly larger expanse of water with small grassy tufts and islands in the distance. The clouds were slowly breaking up and thin patches of blue began to show through. There was an incredible feeling of peace and tranquility within me as I painted, listening to the sound of the wind sighing through the grasses as well as the bird calls nearby as I worked. This to me was how I truly wanted to spend my time, alone in nature doing what I love to do the most.

RECENT ILLUSTRATIONS

 

A few new illustrations done mostly in my sketchbook. These like many of the earlier ones are part of a long term project that is slowly drawing to a conclusion. Hopefully I will have more to report early next year.

I found this Loon feather washed up on the beach along with quite a few more. Not sure if these were part of their natural moult or if a bird had died. The black area had a slightly greenish-purple sheen - depending on the light.

During last winter, it had snowed overnight and when we walked down to the lake, most areas will still covered with a layer of snow. These Lord of Baltimore seed heads looked wonderful against the bluish-grey of the water. Done on Strathmore watercolor paper, the Black Vulture and Loon feather are about 5 x 8 inches each, the seed heads about 10 x 8 inches.

LOW TIDE

 

Walking across this beach was the culmination of another amazing morning spent in Costa Rica. We had set out from where we were staying an hour of so before walking slightly inland then turning and coming back towards the coast and following the tideline back towards our hotel. The walk was full of fascinating plants and birdlife, and I saw many species I hadn't seen before. Here at low tide, the beach was a contrast of bi-colored sand, rocks and verdant greenery all set out under a stunning blue sky - most of this I tried to capture in my painting. More and more, I seem to be creating a visual diary of my travels and this has been the inspiration behind my work. Size is 9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas board.

CLOUD SHADOWS - ALASKA

 

I stood for some time watching how the light and shadow played out over the side of this mountain in Alaska. At times, the cloud cleared till I could see the peaks more clearly but I liked this look when they were more shrouded and the further ones draped in shadow. The water was a deep glacier blue of the shade I have only seen in Alaska or Canada - probably from the icemelt. I am still drawing heavily from the inspiring period I spent there and hope I am able to capture some of it in my paintings. This small oil on canvas is 8 x 10 inches.