Royal Spoonbills

"Royal Spoonbills "
By Little Heath
February 2026

I was driving past remote Gunderbooka in far west New South Wales & witnessed an extraordinary sight. A huge storm had passed through that day and as the afternoon sun began to break through, the clouds transformed into a breathtaking vista of mauves, blues, and oranges. It was a moment of pure magic, particularly as I observed Royal Spoonbills gracefully flying and wading through the floodwaters. This majestic scene became the focal point of this latest.

This painting encapsulates the beauty and serenity of the Outback @ that moment .

This source of inspiration will be printed and attached to the back of canvas.

NOTE : Aboriginal spiritual meaning of The Royal Spoonbill :
( Spoonbills have the ability to sweep obstacles out of their way. They have the power to overcome anything that can hinder them from getting things they need . They have to achieve their dreams no matter what. Spoonbills come up with solutions to every problem that comes their way. They are not terrified nor are they moved by the mightiness of any obstacle. This painting might help you get that power. )

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Winter in 2026 has begun and its very cold. The log fire in my home burns slowly every day .

ARTIST STATEMENT
Twenty years ago I had a chance meeting with one of the famous " Brushmen of the Bush " artists from Broken Hill . He was out in the middle of nowhere, parked on the side of a lonely dirt road painting a landscape .I pulled over to have a chat . He was very talkative & began explaining the basics of his oil painting. The whole thing intrigued me. A month later I bought some art materials , made a studio in the corner of the old wool shed & began painting .

SUBJECT MATTER :

My oil paintings are about the people and the wildlife who live in the remote Outback of Australia .
I often drive off the beaten track and experience the beauty and harshness of the Outback with its floods, droughts and bush fires . Spectacular thunder storm clouds grab my attention , towering high in the sky marking the horizon with deep contrasting greys and mauves , highlighted by flashes of lightening.

Flocks of colourful parrots , bilbys , numbats , emus & groups of kangaroos roam free . Graceful Gum trees and large ancient rock formations with their stark , majestic appearance .

The billabong is also a favourite subject of my landscape paintings because they attract thirsty animals and people fishing and swimming . Sometimes a rare platypus can be seen & they are a haven for water birds such as Spoonbills & brolgas .
Watching people do all soughts of unique and wonderfull things as they go about their daily lives. All of which are subject matter for my paintings .

ART STYLE :

My Art style is known as " Naive " as I was not formally trained in Art School &
" Colourist" because I prefer using pure bright colours
To apply the oil paint to canvas , I mostly use brushes , sometimes a bird feather , occasionally a palette knife or my fingers , to achieve the desired effect .
The canvas edges are painted , so it is ready to hang without a frame.

Feel free to ask questions or make comments via Bluethumb.

Let me know if there are any paintings you would prefer on a larger or smaller canvas or you would like a specific scene done from your description.

Every oil painting is original and authentic , signed and dated on the front . A printed explanation of the influence behind the painting is attached to the back of canvas.

So there you have it.
Thanks for reading my profile.

And have a healthy and happy 2026.
Regards,

Little Heath.