Study in White by Barbara Banthien. 17.5 inches by 12.5 inches image size on 22.5 inches by 17 inches paper size, a limited edition of 500, each signed and numbered with Certificate of Authenticity included. Framed size measures 27 inches by 21.5 inches.

Great egrets are particularly beautiful to me. I am always amazed to see these tall, elegant, snow-white birds in the most unlikely places—sometimes right by the side of the road in a muddy bog, their brilliant white plumage is in stark contrast to those surroundings.  I like to paint these birds that live near to me—ones I can see and study up close.  I paint using small strokes, slowly building up the intensity of the color.  I keep the paint very thin, so that the color is created from many translucent layers of paint.  This makes the surface almost smooth.  I devote my attention to simple things—like the way light hits feathers and turns them luminous.