D. F. Gray.... Pastels from life

February 14th the Sealions were still putting on a show but I painted the Island and birds this day, 18 x 24"

a crowded beach of photographers, eventually they get bored and leave the beach to us

February 7, Craig Bay from Brant Point in the afternoon light, while working I watched an Eagle land in the water and sit there with what looked like a flounder in her talens she sat there for a minute or two then flapped a few times then flew towards the Rathtrevor nest! There is always some action on the strait this time of year 20 x 24"

February 6, down to the shelf at Beachcomber park, Hundreds of California and Stellar Sea Lions in small and large groups with some very close to the shore. We have never seen it like this before There were still 2-300 Sea Lions visible at the Dry Land Sort and herds of 5-150 could be seen all over the bay. There is also a phenomenal number of Common Murres still in the same area of NWBay/Craig Bay area. Lots of divers and gulls too ... a very good bird show on our shoreline, a difficult spectacle to try and paint, they would rush towards us barking as we stood there, exciting day at our shore we are all waiting for the Pacific Herring spawn, yesterday a pod of Orcas came through but I was painting across the bay at Rathtrevor park 18 x 24"

some video of the Lions here:http://www.bcdailybuzz.com/media/9829/Sea_Lion_Frenzy/

February 5 looking across to Beachcomber Park where the pastel above was painted the next day,lots of bird activity out on the strait 18 x 24"

February 2, Low Tide Craig Bay from Pacific Shores, a great formation on a sandstone shelf 18 x 24"

January 29th, Windy day with lots of bird activity out on the strait 18 x 24"

January 26th, Low Tide at the mouth of the Little Qualicum river Swans, both Scoters, Sea Lions Brant and a Long-billed Dowager, windy when I got there so took shelter behind a previous model(a large Maple driftwood) 18 x 24"

January 19, It was cold at the park, no one around, a few geese, Brant and Canadas a few ducks and a group of turnstones, my fingers were cold as I set up and the paper I brought had a rough layer of pumice, when I returned to the car the windward side doors were frozen ...whining!, 18 x 24"

while working this January 14, a murder of crows kept flying to the tide flat then returning to the trees above me then a rain of clam shells along with a chorus of vocal criticism

Working with Brent lynch, an immature Eagle is poised above him.

January 5 Rathtrevor Park 19 x 27"

The first works for 2012,January 2

Down to the Shore in a great wind found some shelter but still blown off the beach! On the way home stopped and painted a 1970 Chrysler

I worked the Chrysler until the rain-a-fall, both 18 x 24"