Tufted Puffins II
by Kris Parins
Original - Sold
Price
Not Specified
Dimensions
21.500 x 14.250 inches
This piece has been already sold. Please feel free to contact the artist directly regarding this or other pieces.
Click here to contact the artist.
Title
Tufted Puffins II
Artist
Kris Parins
Medium
Painting - Watercolor On Paper
Description
Years ago, I went on a wildlife cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park, out of Seward, Alaska. I expected to be wowed by the sight of large animals in the wild; animals I had never seen outside of a zoo, and I was not disappointed. Whales, sea otters, seals, bears and moose were abundant and thrilling. But what captured my imagination? A comical clown of a bird, one I had only seen in photos: the Puffin! As it was nesting season, the birds were gathered on the craggy cliffs and in the chilly sea, busily feeding their hatchlings. I snapped dozens of reference photos, augmented by a close-up photo shoot of the birds at the Sea Life Center back in Seward.
Puffins mate for life, and except for nesting season, live on the open water. Heavy bodied, they need to beat their wings 400 times per minute to make airborne progress. But when they dive under the waves, they effortlessly fly through the water, using their feet for rudders.
As an artist, the puffin's major appeal was the graphic quality of the brilliantly colored beak contrasting with the black and white feathers. Combined with a high-contrast reflective pattern on the surface of the water, my painting plan came together. Then it rattled around in my head for 9 more years until I was ready to commit the idea to paper.
Most of my studio paintings employ a technique of applying masking fluid and then pouring liquefied watercolor. For this subject, I felt it was necessary to include more detail than I typically do, finishing the faces of the birds with a small brush.
" was included in the "Birds in Art" Woodson Art Museum 2017 international exhibit, and was selected as a Finalist in International Artist Magazine and Artists Magazine competitions.
Uploaded
May 22nd, 2016
Statistics
Viewed 2,492 Times - Last Visitor from Sterling, MA on 04/24/2024 at 4:04 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
