Study for hot Riding the Thermals

This is an 8 x 10 thumbnail, an idea sketch, for a much larger painting that's floating around in my head. Painted from memory, this painting portrays a turkey vulture soaring overhead, riding the thermals like no other bird can. The larger painting that I have in mind will probably have several turkey vultures in it, but one gets the feeling across better in a small painting.

Ugly as sin up close, turkey vultures are amazingly beautiful in their element, the air, and watching them effortlessly drift around on the hot thermals is an unforgettable experience.

This painting is framed with a barnwood frame and is ready to hang.