This is part of a series of four bird paintings I did for greeting cards featuring hymn verses. Herons are just about my favorite birds to draw because of their fascinating necks, but the bird’s larger size made this painting more difficult than others in the series. With the others, I found that the natural texture of watercolor lent itself well to suggesting feathers up close, but it was hard to keep my details both smooth and readable for a lower-resolution image, especially one so dark. This painting is for a “praying for you” card featuring the second verse of “Be Still, My Soul.”

Be still, my soul; your God will undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Hymn text is public domain.