Royal Terns (1 of 50 Limited edition)

The Story

Terns gather at the margin where the beach meets the sea, and Shubert has found the moment when the flock settles into collective stillness. Two dozen royal terns crowd the waterline, some in full breeding plumage with their sharp orange bills and swept-back black crests, others between seasons, all of them facing roughly into the wind as birds do. Behind them, a low surf breaks in horizontal bands of blue-gray and white foam. It is a painting that contains both the restlessness of shorebirds and the deep calm of a coast that has looked this way for ten thousand years.

The Location

Royal terns nest on the barrier islands and sandy spits of the Chesapeake's lower Bay and the adjacent Atlantic coast — Assateague Island, the Virginia barrier island chain, and the sandy shoals of the lower Bay. They are colonial nesters, often sharing space with laughing gulls and Forster's terns on isolated beaches protected from mainland predators. The scene Shubert depicts — low surf, wet sand, a crowd of birds at the tideline — is quintessential barrier island coast, one of the most ecologically significant and visually distinctive landscapes in the entire watershed.

Artist's Perspective

"Observed while surf fishing. I was drawn to the repeating motif of their snow-white breasts, black caps, orange bills and blue primary feathers — exploring variations in bird poses while experimenting with depth of field and lighting effects on water reflections." — Marty Shubert

Curator's Recommendation

The most atmospheric piece in Shubert's collection — the only one that puts you inside a landscape rather than in front of a subject. Works beautifully in coastal bedrooms, sunrooms, and beach houses where you want art that breathes. The soft blues, grays, and warm sand tones coordinate with a wide range of interior palettes.

Print Quality

Archival-Quality Canvas. Made in the USA with globally sourced materials.

Every Chesapeake Focus print is produced on archival-grade poly-cotton canvas using UL GREENGUARD GOLD certified inks — water resistant, fade resistant, and anti-yellowing. Each canvas is hand-stretched over kiln-dried stretcher bars that are knot-free and warp-free, then finished with your choice of hardwood floater frame in matte black, white, brown, or natural. Ready to hang right out of the box.

Stretcher bars sourced from FSC-certified, sustainably managed forests — a quiet nod to the landscapes our work celebrates.