Anhinga ~ Good Fortune ~ "Oh, to Fly" ~ Watercolor

This anhinga watercolor painting captures one of the most dramatic silhouettes in the bird world. "Good Fortune" shows an anhinga with wings spread wide to dry — that iconic pose you see in every field guide, but rendered here with the luminous depth that only handmade pigments can achieve. Anhingas are called snakebirds for the way they swim with only their long neck above water. On land, they're something else entirely: dark, angular, totemic.

I painted this freehand on archival cotton rag paper using Kissho Gansai pigments from Kyoto. The anhinga's dark plumage is deceptively complex — blacks that shift to deep green, bronze highlights on the wings, and silver-white markings that demanded precise restraint. Working wet-on-wet, alla prima (completed in a single session), I built these tonal shifts through layered washes that let the natural mineral pigments do what they do best: create depth that glows from inside the paper.

This original is part of my Oh, to Fly! collection. While herons and cranes dominate the collection, the anhinga holds its own through sheer graphic power. The outstretched wings create a composition that works as both naturalism and near-abstraction. Anhingas lack the waterproofing oils that other waterbirds have — that's why they must spread their wings to dry after every dive. What looks like a display is actually survival. That tension between beauty and necessity is what drew me to this bird. My training at the New York Academy of Art — especially the years studying drapery and wing anatomy in life drawing — gave me the structural knowledge to paint those outstretched wings freehand and have the span, the feather groupings, and the weight feel authentic.

One of a kind. This painting brings dark, dramatic energy to studies, libraries, and living rooms where bold, unconventional subjects are welcome. Optium Museum Plexi framing available. Free shipping, complimentary insurance, and certificate of authenticity included.

Materials:  Each watercolor original is unique, the only one of its kind. Created on 300lb Arches Watercolor Paper with Japanese Sumi-é watercolor paint designed to last a lifetime.

Framing: Each piece is elegantly presented with light grey matting in a handmade wooden frame with a grey-washed finish. UV plexiglass and archival materials ensure long-lasting preservation. Crafted with care, our frames are 1.5" deep and handcrafted from solid wood by our trusted local framer.

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