Bird Beach: A Limited Edition Print Inspired by Nature and Human Behaviour

“Bird Beach” is a limited edition print inspired by a moment I witnessed on the beach while on holiday—a scene that stuck with me long after I left. It was a striking image of black and white birds, flapping their wings and scrambling for scraps of bread crusts scattered on the sand. As I watched the birds, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the fluttering of their wings, the squawking, and the chaos of it all. It was almost like a dance—chaotic yet mesmerizing.

Despite the fact that there was more than enough, the birds gathered in the same spot, fighting over bread crusts. Some quickly spotted the abundance elsewhere, grabbed their share, and flew off. Others, however, stayed put, caught in a struggle that wasn’t really necessary.

This got me thinking about how humans sometimes behave in much the same way. We often find ourselves fighting for resources, even when there’s enough to go around. It seems like only yesterday during the pandemic, that people were fighting over toilet paper and hand gel.

The scene I witnessed of birds fighting over bread crusts can be seen as a metaphor for how we sometimes approach life—fighting for our "slice of life’s pie," as if it’s in limited supply; believing there isn’t enough, when in fact, the abundance is all around us if we’re willing to look.

There’s a well-known verse from Matthew 6:26 that often comes to mind when I think about this:

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

It’s a reminder that nature provides in its own way. The birds didn’t have to fight over the bread, yet they did. We often act the same way, hoarding more than we need, even though most of us are surrounded by plenty.

At the time I captured this scene, I didn’t have my phone or sketchbook with me, so I had to rely on my memory and my first impressions of what I saw. Later, I used a combination of photographs taken on holiday as reference to help create an abstract digital collage of that moment. I also sketched out some ideas based on the beach landscape to help with the final composition.

Lissia Fraser reference photo taken 2020 on holiday

Lissia Fraser Pencil sketch drawn 2020 used for reference

Lissia Fraser Pencil, chalk and charcoal sketch

I decided to recreate the image as a painting. What started as an attempt to replicate the original digital piece took on a life of its own. The movement of the birds, which was sharper and fragmented in the original, became softer and more rounded creating a softer feel in the painting. Some people found the painting’s more appealing, preferring it to the original image because of these softer feel. I prefer the original as some of the texture and subtleties in the original are lost in the painting. However, both versions offer their own charm, capturing different aspects of the same idea.

Lissia Fraser Painting Bird Beach 2023

Lissia Fraser Digital Print Bird Beach 2022

“Bird Beach” isn’t just about birds fighting over crumbs—it’s a reflection on how we approach life’s resources, the natural world, and how we often forget that there’s enough to go around. It’s a snapshot of nature, but also a reminder of how sometimes, it’s our own behaviour that gets in the way of our own happiness and the wellbeing of others.

If you’re drawn to this limited edition print, it’s not just about the striking visuals—it’s about what it evokes. It’s a reminder of the beauty and chaos that exist side by side in nature and in us. https://www.colourandash.com/product-page/bird-beach