Framed oil painting

12 x 14 (image size) oil on board

Retreating from fishing the pounding surf, this Brown Pelican decided he needed a little down time.  Away from all the dive bombing episodes offshore, no more competing for the biggest fish of the day, this pelican just needed some peace and quite relaxing on the beach!  

Just like for us humans, sometimes the beach is where a bird can get away from it all.  This bird was obviously tired, letting us get unusually close.  It actually took a little snooze while I took a number of pictures of him.  

I chose to depict him right before he decided to lie down.  It had been a long day, as is indicated by his cast shadow on the wet sand.  He just wanted some “me” time.  

I also chose to depict him using a traditional palette, leaning more towards realism with touches of Impressionism.  I want viewers to be able to relate to this bird and to identify with the moment.  

It was a solitary moment.  The pelican is a young Brown Pelican, his head still brown, and he was most likely spent from trying to keep up with the older pelicans.  In a short time I’m sure he was back in action, flying up and down the shoreline.