Belted Kingfisher ~ "The Best Of Times" ~ "Songbirds & Friends" ~ Watercolor

A Belted Kingfisher still at the river's edge is one of my favorite things to come upon -- that shaggy crest, the heavy bill, the way it sits utterly focused on the water before dropping like a stone after a fish. I have stood and watched one for the better part of a morning, and the time never felt wasted. Those are the best of times.

This is a single-bird portrait, the kingfisher given the whole stage. I wanted nothing competing with that profile, just the bird and the soft river light and the held breath of a moment before the dive. I painted it wet-on-wet, in layers, with no drawing first, working to keep the blues loose and the crest alive.

An original watercolor on paper, one of a kind. 'The Best Of Times' -- a quiet hour at the water, the kind worth slowing down for.

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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