(Cue Celine Dion) All By Myselllllllllf

Details: Acrylic on canvas | 8” H x 24” W | Click any image to enlarge.

Inspiration: Guided by a photo taken during a misty gray morning walk, this bird stood apart. The cormorants I’ve encountered while paddleboarding tend to be more gregarious, congregating with seagulls and others of their ilk. My mom says the image feels slightly sad. Me, I laud this one for finding a pacific perch away from the other boisterous birds.

Process: As I rarely paint anything realistic (strategic artistic license), the rock covering came out surprisingly well, taking on a quality that reminded me of oils or watercolor — mediums I have yet to muster the courage to properly try out.