LAUGHING GULL STUDIES II

 

Here are a two studies of resting Laughing Gulls. In winter, they look quite a lot different from their summer (breeding) plumage mostly as they have lost the dark chocolate brown color on their heads. Also the bright red bill has darkened to black although some birds still have remnants of red. Still, I enjoy the mottled pattern of dark on the heads which varies from bird to bird. Here this bird is not very heavily marked.

This sleeping bird was part of a larger flock that I singled out to paint. I liked the subtle shadow on the breast which warmed and deepened as it crept under the belly. Also the shadow as it undulated over the uneven surface of the sand. Although it was a sunny day, all of them were facing into the cool stiff breeze - most birds do this. Both these watercolor studies were done in my sketchbook, sizes are about 6 x 9 inches.

APROACHING DAWN - WHITE-TAILED DEER

 

It was still dark when I slipped outside and into the quiet of a pre-dawn morning. In the nearby reserve, I stood as a hurried flight of ducks passed overhead and splashed down then began feeding in the shallows. A few Song Sparrows called followed by the sweet drawn-out song of a White-throated Sparrow. I walked a little further along and stopped as a small herd of deer slowly approached. I think in the gathering light, they couldn't quite make me out. One braver than the others (probably the matriarch) came closer looking at me from one side to the other then took a few more steps even closer! As I stood stock still gazing in wonder, they eventually turned and drifted silently away until I was alone again.

In this painting, I wanted to try and capture the wonderful experience of that morning placing the deer as it was on that day slowly turning away and soon to be gone. Size is 9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas board.

APLOMADO FALCON, PART 2

 

After working on the bird during the past week, I finally reached this point where I think it is about completed. I'll put it aside for a while then come back in another week or so and look at the painting with fresh eyes seeing if it needs anything else done to it. This was a new bird for me, one I haven't yet seen in the wild - apparently they are rare in the US. Still, getting close to this one was quite an experience which was magnified when seeing it in flight diving to a lure - simply wonderful to watch! Size is about 11 x 7.5 inches, watercolor on Arches paper.

APLOMADO FALCON, PART 1

 

I came across this partially-completed portrait of an Aplomado Falcon a few days ago so took it over to my watercolor table to get a better look at it. Although started some time ago, I usually have a few paintings on the go at any one time - most of them are well on their way just like this one and I could see that I wouldn't have too much to do to finish it. I began by laying in more washes of color onto the back and wing areas trying to get that looking right - obviously I still have some way to go there! Most of the head and breast had already been done so there were only a few bits there that needed any touch ups. Hopefully this one will be brought to completion in the next week or so, part 2 coming soon!

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.