Happy Hopper

This painting captures a fleeting moment witnessed shortly after sunrise at Lake Tyers. While walking on the sandy area near the lake, I noticed a small female fairy wren mid-hop, momentarily airborne with her feet dangling off to the side. The pose was so unexpected and full of character that it immediately made me smile, and I was fortunate to capture the moment in a photograph that later inspired this painting.
The background is soft and understated, painted in gentle earthy browns and warm beiges just as it was in the photo. The rising sun lights the wren from the side, creating a delicate glow along her feathers and casting a long, slender shadow across the sandy ground. I love how such a tiny bird can show so much personality. The comical mid-air hop in this minimalist image reminds me that nature often provides joy and humour if we take the time to notice.