Day 19 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

Sandhill cranes are the subject in today's painting. A couple of years ago on our way down a country road in a marshy area we ran across a pair of Sandhill cranes. Thankfully I had my camera with me that day. Cranes are very aware traffic but don't usually do more than watch your vehicle, that is if you don't open the door and step out of it. That day I felt pretty adventurous and slowly got our of the car and crawled slowly toward the pair of cranes which were closey guarding their chicks. I ended up within 10 feet of the male, who started to arch his neck and make a lot of sounds trying to threaten me away. I remember hiding behind a telephone poll and continuing to take pictures. It was pretty exciting and the reference I used for this painting is from that day's photo shoot.