Soaring

'Soaring' 

6x6 oil on panel
SOLD

I snapped a few shots of these seagulls wheeling and diving gracefully above the Vince Lombardi Rest Area on one of our drive by's. I cropped the ones I wanted to paint and focused on giving the composition a sense of movement. I've also been sketching pelicans, which are most interesting birds. Teradactyl-like, they cruise over the Gulf in the late afternoon and are fantastic divers. Meanwhile, gale winds and low temps here in Southwest Florida today, are keeping all but the most intrepid beach goers away from the shore. 

Bird's Eye View

"Bird's Eye View" 6x6 oil on panel

I like to drive out over the beach road between Marshfield and Duxbury and paint or take photos. Part ocean beach, part tidal marsh, there's always lots of action there and the view includes Powder Point Bridge and the Myles Standish Monument as well as distant views of Plymouth. 
For this little painting I combined the birds from different photos flying toward the distant marsh. 
It also sparked an idea which I'd had (and then it eluded me) for a 24x24 canvas that is toned and has been waiting in the studio. I had hit upon an idea and didn't really ruminate on it long enough to 'set' it and it evaporated, but when I began painting this, I remembered that it was about birds. I made a solid start and just need to bring it to completion. So....stay tuned.

Palmetto Palm watercolor study

Here in Naples it's getting hotter and yesterday, around three o'clock, I took myself to the beach. I broke out the watercolors and did a little study of these Palmettos standing guard. I also noticed that the seagull swarm starts just before sunset. Hundreds of gulls fly in and land on the beach. I left about 7:20, the sun still up, and headed for Publix to do some grocery shopping at the perfect time. Everyone else is home having supper :D