Sea Gull 6x6 oil painting

Day 14 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.
This sea gull landed on the balcony of our hotel at Mission Bay, San Diego. He stayed long enough for me to take some photos. Surveying his domain--great view!
This painting is SOLD.

Ghost Crab 6x6 oil painting

Day 10 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.
This little guy has been a lot of trouble! When we found him on the beach early one morning, he was so cute--ghost crabs are nocturnal, so he probably wouldn't have been out for much longer. He was so still, I nudged him gently with my foot to be sure he was alive. He skittered a few inches away, but stayed facing me, ready to fight! Ghost crabs come in many colors, and although this one looked pretty pale when I photographed him, the picture actually showed blues, oranges and yellows. What was I thinking, trying to paint a critter with eight legs and two claws??? A ways into the painting, I realized I had given him an extra leg! I actually considered leaving it. ;) For a little creature, he can do a lot of damage--one thing he feeds on is turtle hatchlings. :( Painting him larger would have been easier--a lighter beach background would have been better. Oh, well! Another learning experience.

Horseshoe Crab 6x6 oil painting

Day 9 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.
Found this horseshoe crab on the beach early in the morning. Such strange-looking creatures. They've been around 450 million years and are considered living fossils. Their eggs are an important food source for migratory shore birds. Their blood is harvested and used for medical purposes. They swim on their backs, but feed on the ocean floor. The tail is used to flip themselves over when they're on their back. I have a new respect for horseshoe crabs!