I had fun painting this cormorant; after I created his body using a mix of ultramarine and umber to create a rich black, I used gold paint mixed with sienna and blue to create the shiny feathers on his back. I also used some opalescent paint in the water for a bit of extra shine.
This is a very typical pose for cormorants on the lake and rivers nearby; he is drying off after diving in for a meal.