Alfredo S. Corral

What do birds and people have in common?  More than you’d think.  Both species are fascinating to watch, often colorful and are frequently on the move. Living on the north coast of California provides me with a wealth of subject matter. If you slow down and investigate nature you’ll see an amazing assortment of birds from the smallest, humming birds, to the largest, egrets and flamingoes.  As for people, I concentrate on doing portraits from photographs or watching people during my  travels.

I have explored various mediums over the years but now find myself focused on photography and watercolors.  Watercolors, brushes, and paper allow me to create almost transparent feathers on a bird’s wingspan. And given the number of coastal birds here flying in and out of our bay and waterways, watercolors reflect their natural habitat.

My watercolor portraits include family and friends along with portrait commission work. My portraits also include people I have seen during my travels.  As with birds, I work from a photograph, one that may capture the essence of a person in a certain moment or time in their life. Portraits connect us with our families and express who we are. Portraits can reflect connections to those we loved or those who remain in our world and enrich our lives. This work is very personal, and I work hard to capture the subject and the impact they had on the lives of their family and friends.

Watercolors by nature are very fluid. While I may paint a fluid sky or body of water, my subjects, whether birds or humans, are quite detailed. I enjoy being able to control those details with a fine tipped brush while varying the depth of the colors in my work.

You can purchase some of these artworks in print form from my website.  I also have note cards sold in local stores.  If you are interested in a commissioned portrait, please contact me via my website.  And if you happen to see me at the Arcata Marsh,  camera in hand, please say hello.