The subject of this piece is a noble wood duck flying over the marsh. This piece was inspired by my upbringing in the Lowcountry where hunting waterfowl is a way of life and a rite of passage. The background features the golden-brown stalks of marsh grass that help to camoflauge a hunter and his trusty retriever.

To create this piece I used acrylic paint. I really love the way that the acrylic works to make each stroke distinguished without compromising the blendability of the paint. I tried to make the feathers as lifelike and anatomically correct as possible by following a reference photo very closely.

If I were to change anything about this painting, I would add more detail to the water and the trees in the background. I would also add more ducks because he looks a little lonely.