Snake Bird
by AnnaJo Vahle
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Price
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Dimensions
16.000 x 20.000 x 1.000 inches
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Title
Snake Bird
Artist
AnnaJo Vahle
Medium
Painting - Acrylic On Wood
Description
I have been meaning to do a painting like this for many years. We watch them swimming in the lake by our home. Because of the complicated white patterns in the black wings, it was a bit of a project. It is almost spring and the anhingas are in the mating game. They have such pretty eyes at this time of the year.
The snake bird. No, not from eating snakes. They mostly eat fish, so the name originated from some other reason. It's long, slender neck that it often carries in an "S" shape while swimming, and the fact that its body is often submerged under water while swimming, leaving only the long neck sticking up. It truly looks like a snake swimming across a pond.
The Anhinga, its proper name, is a fascinating bird not only because of its swimming habits, but also because it has three nicknames. The Spanish cross bird is its other fairly well-fitting name. In flight, its long, outstretched neck, skinny, long wings and slightly flared tail resembles an old Spanish cross. Its third moniker, the water turkey, comes from its swimming habits and its broad tail when fully flared out.
When people see a thin black bird on the water or drying its wings on a tree branch, many can’t tell whether it is an anhinga or a cormorant. One of the easiest ways to see the difference is in the beak. The anhinga has a thin pointy beak, while the cormorant’s beak is thicker and more rounded. Cormorants also have shorter tails, and lack silvery wing patches.
A male anhinga has dark black feathers with a some silverish-white feathers on his wings. During breeding season, the male’s blood-red eyes have a bright blue patch of skin around it. Females have a long buff-tan neck.
Both the male and female anhinga grow to 29.5-37.4 inches and have a wingspan of about 42 inches. They weigh 46-47 ounces.
Anhingas are often seen drying their feathers while sitting on a perch with their wings outstretched. Since their feather are less water resistant than most other birds they can swim underwater, but they need to dry those feathers in order to fly well. Anhingas swim underwater and catch small fish, shrimp, amphibians and crayfish. They also eat young alligators and snakes. Underwater they spear their prey with their sharp beak and then surface and flip their meal into their mouth.
This is an acrylic painting on a 16inch by 20 inch cradled gesso bord. The watermark does not appear on prints.
Uploaded
March 14th, 2021
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Comments (60)
Taphath Foose
Gorgeous work, AnnaJo!!! CONGRATULATIONS, your work is featured in "For the Birds"! I invite you to place it in the group's "Featured Image Archive" discussion thread and any other thread that is fitting!! And also a special congratulations as your gorgeous artwork was specially chosen as an “Administrator's Finest” and shared in the For the Birds group thread!! 😊
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Thank you so much Taphath. I accidentally added it to the "Featured Images" twice. i am honored.
Laurel Adams
AnnaJo, your painting…and it’s backstory both here and behind the BUZzz are expressions of what I hoped this contest would reflect…how we keep our art…vital…in its ongoing MOVEment from its inspired flow..thru its ongoing viewing and appreciation…in our memories having co-created it…and in our gifting, selling, …even texting! Thank you for allowing us to SEE, Share and Remember….v..best to you
Laurel Adams
Many thanks for your entries made even more special by your response in the behind-the-scenes contest blog BUZzz!! Viewers of this exhibit will certainly have an enhanced appreciation of your artistry and the overall contest experience thanks to …your voice! So appreciated! BEST to you. AnnaJo, no wonder we often express our similarities!…my aunt Jill had the treasured book of Audubon prints and his work was my first “ teacher” as we went on our real life adventures, looking up birds and plants in his book. I might self characterize my portfolio as “Nature Abstracts meet Light” in different media. NO WONDER I Love Your work…masterful!
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Thank you, Laurel. Interesting that we were both exposed Audubon...I imagine that a lot of people were. He was quite a unique artist.
Laurel Adams
Stunning painting!!…I love birds and , although I am familiar with cormorants, I have never seen this beautiful Anhinga…GLORIOUS! So pleased you undertook this challenge! I painted a wood duck for my best friend’s husband and I understand the complexities of trying to honor the plumage patterns of waterfowl….amazing artistry in Nature…and the iridescence?? Magnificent painting, AnnaJo. ..LF
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Thank you so very much Laurel. A wood duck does sound like a challenge. I bet that it was nice.
Rainbow Artist Orlando L
What a magnificent and marvelous painting of this gorgeous snake bird AnnaJo!! spectacular details and sensational colours fill up the entire art. love the composition and light in this excellent work!! L/F
Gary F Richards
Excellent composition, lighting, shading, colors and artwork! F/L …voted for this piece in the contest YOUR BEST IMAGE OF AN ADULT BIRD INSECT OR MYTHICA...!
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020-2021 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L
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