The Dance of Life
by AnnaJo Vahle
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Dimensions
36.000 x 24.000 x 1.250 inches
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Title
The Dance of Life
Artist
AnnaJo Vahle
Medium
Painting - Acrylic On Linen
Description
This isn't actually a happy dance. These two great white egrets are in a nasty fight. At first, they seemed to be minding their business. Then one of them raised his head straight up high in the air. He made himself look much taller. The other responded the same way. Each of them made a loud series of guttural sounds. They suddenly flew at each other and both lifted into the air.
The one on the left grasped the neck of the other one with his orange beak before flying even higher. He dove head first using his pointed beak as a dagger. He dove right at the back of the neck of the egret on the right. It didn't look as if the victim was badly hurt. At least, I didn't see any blood and he seemed to resume standing around seemingly alright. He did keep a wary eye on the victor.
I put one of the photographs that I took of this actual scene in my photograph gallery. I didn't show the really nasty one. I painted this particular scene when the birds looked most beautiful. Their feathers were blurred and fanned out so prettily.
This is winter time in Florida at the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Breeding seemed to be on all their minds. That was what this dance or fight was about. The rest of the flock seemed almost oblivious to the vicious fight. They were each busy doing their own thing. Some of them had their own little tussles. Most of them stood around grooming. Some fished. Some seemed to nap.
The flock is full of a variety of birds. Besides the great white egrets, there are glossy and white ibises, snowy egrets, white egrets, Florida wood-storks, and roseate spoonbills. This is a common sight around here this time of year. You can see that some of the birds have their breeding plumage. During the nesting season, the great egrets grow long feathers called aigrettes. They are not tail feathers. They grow from the their upper back. They also grow green around their eyes at this time.
I painted this with acrylic paints on a heavy duty gallery wrapped linen canvas. It is 24 inches by 36 inches.
Uploaded
February 18th, 2015
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Viewed 1,978 Times - Last Visitor from Centerport, NY on 03/28/2024 at 1:36 PM
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Comments (49)
Gary F Richards
Spectacular egret composition, lighting, shading, great colors and artwork! F/L voted
Louise Merigot
Story beautifully represented in your painting. Voted ADULT BIRD WITH WINGS WIDE OPEN. l.f.
Gary F Richards
Spectacular composition, lighting, shading, colors and artwork! F/L Voted for this piece in the contest FOCUS ON WILDLIFE AND OR THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Gary F Richards
Beautiful composition, lighting, shading, color and artwork! F/L …voted for this piece in the WILD NATURE contest
Rory Sagner
Your paintings are so wonderful AnnaJo.....they impart such a clear feeling of appreciation and love for all of life. l/f
Oiyee At Oystudio
It's amazing how you've turned a nasty fight into a happy dance of life! That's the magic of an artist's brush. I saw the photo in your gallery. This painting is much more beautiful! What a masterpiece! F/L
Gabriella Weninger - David
Oh my goodness... What a wonderful scene and sooo GORGEOUS Image AnnaJo... Awesome work!
Maria Hunt
AnnaJo, what a delightful painting... truly complex and not easy to achieve.. Found this in the bird contest and voting. F/L
Maria Hunt
AnnaJo, what a delightful painting... truly complex and not easy to achieve.. Found this in the bird contest and voting. F/L
Maria Hunt
AnnaJo, what a delightful painting... truly complex and not easy to achieve.. Found this in the bird contest and voting. F/L