Beginning a journey

The bar-tailed godwit flies from Alaska to New Zealand non-stop covering 7300 miles across the Pacific Ocean in 8 days. This is the longest nonstop flight of any bird. I chose this bird as the subject of my first blog entry because it symbolizes the beginning a long journey as an amateur artist. A couple of weeks before leaving Alaska the bar-tailed godwit gorges on clams and worms. I similarly gorged myself on Turkey last night as part of our family's Thanksgiving feast.

Placing my subject in the lower left implies that the migratory bird is starting its journey. The gentle arch to the horizon indicates the large expanse of ocean the bird must travel to reach its destination. I first did a few thumbnail sketches then used a Pentel Aquabrush to apply watercolor to 140lb 8x5in. watercolor paper and used watercolor pencils for the bar-tailed godwit. The video illustrates my technique.