Herodias
11 in. x 14 in., acrylic on cradled board
$325 unframed (no frame necessary)
After painting this great blue heron, I found out that the scientific name for them is Ardea Herodias. I thought Herodias would be a fitting name for this piece, since the historical Herodias was the cold-blooded initiator of the murder of John the Baptist. She waited for the right moment to put her daughter up to asking for his head on a platter in front of a room full of her step-father's partying friends. In order to avoid embarrassing himself, he granted the request. Great blue herons are patient and lethal hunters; they will stand as still and unnoticed as possible, watching and waiting for their prey to swim confidently closer and closer until they can impale them with their long, sharp beaks and swallow them whole. This painting was done as an exercise to assist an aspiring art student in learning to paint. I hope you like it.
Reference photo courtesy @diego.madrigal.cr