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.
