I painted this group of fledging Great Blue Herons after my week long Green River Raft trip. We watched these young butt chests and otherwise jump around like playful siblings. I have seen birds dance but play?
In my oil painting I wanted to show their motion.
The photo is washed out (film cannot capture all the colors I paint with) but the cobble bar, painted with short repetitive brush strokes, give the motion I was seeking.