Walking on Seashells ~ #7 in the Yellow Foot Collection!
I watched the Snowy Egret walk tenderly across the seashell covered landing toward the fisherman. Was he tentative because of the sharp broken shells or was he wary of the fisherman? No matter what the concern, stealing the fisherman’s baitfish was a top priority!
Walking on Seashells by William R. Beebe
In my latest Snowy Egret painting, entitled Walking on Seashells, the all-white feathered bird with the black legs and yellow feet is depicted on his way to his late morning snack. While the fisherman’s back was turned, this sneaky egret traversed the rough terrain without any suffering, and dipped his beak into the fisherman’s bucket!
This obviously wasn’t his first time taking the bait. After all, he is so light on his feet, weighing in at only 13 ounces, walking on seashells is no problem at all. The fisherman couldn’t even hear him coming. Why go out in the wild and catch fish when they are right there in front of you in a lunch bucket?
Walking on Seashells by William R. Beebe, feet and seashell detail
I love the way the tiny shells surround the Snowy, placing the egret on land, but implying that water is close-by. It creates a solid backdrop with contrast, allowing the bird to be the center of attention.
Impressionist touches were used to keep soft edges and blend colors. The Snowy Egret is a delicate looking bird, with graceful curves, and known for its beautiful breeding plumage. Individual feathers are hard to see on all-white birds, so the feathers are implied with layering of colors over a blueish underpainting.
Walking on Seashells by William R. Beebe, head detail
Walking on Seashells becomes the 7th painting in my Yellow Foot Collection. It is now available on our website along with my other favorite Snowy scenes. I hope you like it and are coming to appreciate the beauty of Snowy Egrets and their many different looks.
Thank you, as always, for reading my journal and for your interest in my art. #8 will be underway soon!
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion….”
What’s next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe