The Birds

Sitting here at my desk this morning, I look out my window and before me is a Great Blue Heron.  We live on a golf course which is normally busy with, of course, golfers and their carts, but currently there are no golfers.  A renovation is taking place.  There's a creek/drainage ditch which runs into a pond and it divides two fairways.  We often see herons and cranes visiting that water.  But since there are no golfers we now watch this beautiful great bird, strolling around near our house.  He must be wondering what in the world is going on and is taking full advantage of his territory being fully available without threat of being bonked in the head.  

I do love birds of any kind.  We have a bluebird house in the backyard which houses several families a year.  At our last home, there was  hole way up in a tall pine where screech owls nested several years, and I wonder if they still do.  That was a very fun experience.

So, speaking of birds, a couple of my most recent paintings were that.  I was pleased to paint a commission for a friend from my home state of Louisiana of a Great Blue Heron wading in the Louisiana waters, back-dropped by gaunt, moss draped cypress trees.  The bird itself was photographed at Magnolia Plantation near Charleston, S.C.  

On finishing that painting, I chose to salute Louisiana again and paint its bird, the Brown Pelican.  I love his attitude. :)


One more of my somewhat recent paintings is at the tail end below and has nothing to do with birds.  A still life which sprung from a workshop with my friend artist, Susan Hotard.

What an inspiration nature is.  The beauty of God's creation is unsurpassed at any level.  The Greatest Artist, the Original Artist certainly.  If we only pause to look around each day and observe His works, we can know He is real.

If you are interested in any of my paintings, you may contact me at mjwillis52@gmail.com or comment below.

Waiting for Supper (sold)

Mr. Louisiana

12X12 Oil

Reflections in a Blue Urn

16X20 Oil