D had been wanting to paint a heron for a while and had done a number of sketches but just was not satisfied that they were very interesting. I had put it aside for a time but interest was quickly revived during an early morning bird-watching walk. Everything was pretty quiet at the marsh - some pintails and, of course, the red-winged blackbirds. I turned just in time to see this massive yet graceful bird slide out it's waiting place in the reeds and soar across the surface of the still pond until it got enough lift to clear the trees.

When it hit this patch of the early morning sun, with the rest of the marsh in sleepy shadow behind it, but the hope of the new day reflecting from the tree tops, I was deeply touched by the beauty of the scene.

Despite my excitement I could not figure out a way of composing the peice. It sat for aobut two years but was frequently visited in my sketches. One morning I was working on it and explaing my frustrations to my wife who then, it seemed without giving it much thought, pointed out exactly how it should be composed.

I think I should discuss this stuff with my wife more often. It would save me a lot of time!

Click here for a close-up

click here to see the painting framed