Life by the River
I often catch a movement in the corner of my eye and when i look up there they are…a flight of gulls lifting off the water and swirling upwards and across the river.
Often it’s gulls but it might also be a flight of cormorants heading down to their fishing grounds or a gang of white cockatoos moving to another gum tree.
Whatever the birds it’s always a special sight to see them effortlessly swoop and soar over the river.
This time it’s a flock of seagulls rising from the river and wheeling overhead.
I had fun suggesting a sunshower with bright greens and yellows in the sunny distance and a diagonal sweep of grey across the sky for the shower. You can see the blue sky peeping through. The sunlit areas in the warm reeds further suggest this is just a passing squall.
A few scribbles of a fineliner pen add a bit of texture and some verticals amongst the horizontals of the reed bed.
I was happy with this moody little postcard done from memory rather than life.
The more familiar I become with the river and it’s environs the more latitude I take with my imagery. After 67 postcards I no longer feel I always need to accurately depict a scene and am enjoying the freedom this brings to my sketches.
This one is done with Turner Acryla Gouache. I really need to get some more tubes!
Lindy Whitton Studio 
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