In a Little Deep

A single sandpiper strides forward in profile, caught mid-step with one foot lifted clear of a thin sheet of water, its bright orange-yellow foot a sharp accent against otherwise muted plumage. Rendered in fine brushed linework against bare white paper, the bird's soft gray-brown winter plumage and streaked back feathers are built from careful cross-hatching, while a cobalt-blue cast shadow and a loosely washed golden reflection below anchor it to the unseen water's surface.