This fine specimen lives at the Salato Wildlife Center about 30 minutes from my hometown. I watched it (I have yet to inquire if it is male or female) fohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifr several minutes and took numerous photographs while it made interesting chirps.
I wanted to select a particularly stoic and regal pose. I used lots of custom brushes which were similar to those taught by David Nash at his workshop 'Pushing Pixels' in Cincinnati. This was also my first go at using some of the new realistic paintbrushes in PS CS5. I intentionally made the background vague as this is a portrait piece. Feedback is welcome.
