July 2026
One of my favorite things about painting is the process. I typically start out thinking “I wonder how this will go, can I even do this?” But slowly as I am faithful to simply put my brush to canvas, step by step seeing something beautiful emerges. It is simply not beautiful when I begin.
For this baby duck I sketched out a rough image on canvas from a photo I took. What I am mostly concerned about when I sketch is composition. Placement, relationship between the head and the body, the eyes and the beak, are things in the correct and proper place for it to look real and believable. Once my sketch was satisfactory, I used values of burnt Sienna to underpaint the darkest and lightest parts of the painting.
The painting is 90 percent finished. I am pleased with the outcome. Below you will find the process that I photographed. The burnt Sienna underpainting, seems to add a lot of depth and richness to the painting. I used oils and a natural hair brush for this painting.
Why did I choose this baby? I am struck as I watch the baby ducks with their mother. These are just ducks. In the grand scheme of the universe, they are nothing. They are worthless creatures, they are hunting sport, they are dinner on a valentines menu and yet their mothers watch over them as if they were the most valuable and precious gem on the planet. She keeps them separate from the flock to protect them until they are ready to defend themselves. she spreads her wings over them in the evening, and they all gather and huddle beneath her. She always knows where they are. They follow her everywhere closely. She is tender towards them and they are important to her. It amazes me that God has designed life this way with order, with tremendous care and nurture towards the most helpless of all creatures. He provides even for the ducks, how much more will he provide what I need.
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