Feathers In The Sunlight

Glossy Ibis, 11x14 oil on panel

This glossy ibis had a lot of color in the areas that were lit up by the sunlight.  I noticed the calm, still stance of the bird.  I like to focus on details, especially around the face and eyes, and to surround the focal point with soft areas of color.  Birds are a good subject to work with here in Florida because there are so many large birds such as herons, ibis, wood storks, and sandhill cranes, and there are many opportunities to sketch and take photographs while they are fishing or just standing still for a few moments.

Sketching and Painting Birds From Life

Laughing Gull With Terns, gouache, 5x7

When I am sketching or painting birds from life, people come over and ask me why I don't just take a photograph and paint from that.  Sometimes I do work from reference photos, but the knowledge I've gained from years of sketching and painting from life comes through.  I don't just make a painting of a photograph.  I want it to look real and lifelike, and not too stiff and tight.  This painting of a Laughing Gull and Terns was done from reference photos, but I picked out three birds from the photo and placed them where I wanted them, to make an interesting composition.  I have spent a lot of time sketching these birds at the beach, so I understand their shapes and proportions.  In this painting I created the feeling of the bright sunlight on the beach.  The black heads make a pleasing contrast with the bright orange beaks.  There is something a little bit whimsical and humorous about terns.

Time To Start Blogging Again

Behold, oil on panel, 11x14

After a long absence, I decided to start up my art blog again.  Writing very short posts on my Instagram page doesn't seem like enough.  Here is a studio painting of clouds above the Gulf waters in Southwest Florida where I live.  The clouds are amazing during the warmer months.  Sunsets are better when there are some clouds, because they reflect the light and change into different colors as the sun gets lower and lower.  My process involves doing sketches of clouds in pencil and taking some reference photos.  Once I'm back in the studio, I use the reference materials and I change the position of the cloud if I want to create a better composition.  The most important aspect of the cloud painting is to create a feeling of being there, and a sense of awe.  The experience of communing with the elements of nature is important and many people have neglected that part of life.  I hope my paintings remind people to get outside and look around more often.