Lowcountry Heron ~ feeling at home with the Spanish-moss!
I was tracking the Great Blue Heron with my camera as it flew overhead, when it turned and decided to land in a huge tree adorned with Spanish-moss. It looked so at home standing on the branch surrounded by the, oddly enough, similar shaped and colored moss. This image always stuck with me and I finally decided to capture the moment on canvas. I call the finished painting Lowcountry Heron.
Lowcountry Heron by William R. Beebe, 11 x 14, Oil on canvas, $1800
Spanish-moss is associated with the deep south, and now that we live in Charleston I’m sure it will become a more frequent subject in my paintings. It is a flowering plant that grows in tropical and subtropical climates. Blue Herons often tend to rest in areas where they feel safe and somewhat camouflaged. So even though it was the first time I had sighted a Blue Heron surrounded by Spanish-moss, it was an obvious resting location for this beautiful bird.
I hope this painting gives you a sense of place and solitude, which I felt while observing one of my favorite birds, the Great Blue Heron.
As an aside, we had some fun when coming up with a title. Branch Manager, Spanish-moss division was a close second. ☺ Out on a Limb, Spanish Heron, Blending In, and Cammo Bird were other ones that didn’t make the cut! ☺
Thank you as always for reading my journal and for your interest in my art. Something Charleston is next on the easel!
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion...”
What's next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe