Acrylics on stretched canvas. Pallet knife, brushes and glazes.
24" x 18"
From memory
2024
The North Atlantic Fulmar in a storm uses the absolute minimum of energy while hunting for scraps of food. It flies low over the water, riding the air pressure being pushed ahead of the wave, surfing the air with minimal wing adjustments and nary a flap. The weight of water in the wave inevitably drains it of energy and it rolls and collapses in a welter of foam. Sensing the loss of lift, the fulmar angles its wings slightly and rises allowing the next wave with the air pressure to arrive under it. Angling its wings down again it drops onto the air to ride again. To flap a wing - except to take off after dropping in the water to catch food is a failure. The fulmar almost never flaps its wings while travelling and hunting.
Sketch
Study
Colour Tests
Testing the position, scale and attitude of different fulmars
