In Blue’s World ~ A Lowcountry Great Blue Heron!
I love working with a collector to create a painting that represents their vision and mine. I was commissioned to paint a large 40” by 30” Great Blue Heron in a Lowcountry setting with marsh grasses. They specifically wanted a vertical piece featuring one of my favorite birds, the Great Blue Heron, with an evening, orange glow about him. They chose this particular stance/pose from one of my images and I worked with them on creating a background and sky that would bring their vision to life.
In Blue’s World by William R. Beebe, 40 x 30 Oil on canvas, commissioned painting
I intentionally place the viewer into Blue’s world. The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird, very common here in the Lowcountry. They feed along shorelines and in the water for mainly fish, but I’ve also seen them eat frogs, eels, snakes, crabs, etc… They will stalk their prey and stab them with their dagger-like beak. Their long S curved neck will straighten out and expand when swallowing their catch.
In Blue’s World by William R. Beebe, head detail
They frequently will use long reeds or swamp grass as cover. Their stick-like legs move slowly through the shallow water, barely making a ripple. When they strike, they strike with quickness and with force. They are expert hunters.
John James Audubon would frequently put the viewer down at the bird’s level, or into their world. As I photograph birds, I try to lower myself as often as possible so as to not shoot down on them. This helps you see everything more from the bird’s perspective and eliminates the feeling that you’re looking at it through a camera lens.
Great Blue Herons impressive size, prehistoric look in flight, and many looks have fascinated me since before I was even a birder. When I photographed my first heron, that was all it took. I became hooked. Now I also love to paint them.
I hope you like In Blue’s World. It was a joy to paint one of “my birds” for someone who also loves Great Blue Herons. For my next bird painting I’m considering doing a large nesting scene with a pair of Great Blue Herons. Their interaction during breeding season in building their nests is always a spectacular sight and I would love to put on canvas a few of the scenes I’ve seen as of late.
Thank you for reading my journal and for your interest in my art and photography! Please check back soon to see what’s on my easel next! :)
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion….”
What’s next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe