The Big Painting
With the pounding surf just a few feet away, this oystercatcher forages, casually probing the swash line for dinner.
By painting at life size, I wanted to give you a walk down the beach, with this crow-sized bird so close and sharp you could touch it.
By freezing the action, the big seafoam spheres at the top left are suspended aloft, while the fine spray on the right descends in gauzy tendrils.
Because it was painted at bird’s eye (or child’s eye) level, the double wave appears high overhead. The foam at your feet feels familiar, like when you were a child first playing in the waves. I hope you can feel the cool, firm sand underfoot, and maybe you can hear the surf and the cries of the gulls.
This 3x5 foot acrylic on stretched canvas is for sale now at Full Fathom Five Gallery in Eastport Maine. Drop in to say hello to Greg and Carol and browse the many fine paintings and photographs. Along with this big painting, I have ten other paintings for sale. You can preview thumbnails here.