I saw magnificent birds of sub-tropical montane forests on my first birding trip to the Himalayan foothills. Small feeding parties of warblers and tits fascinated me. A black-faced warbler was among them. It’s a jumpy bird, hard to glimpse closely. On the last day of my trip, I finally saw it from close range for just a few seconds. The less I watched the bird, the more it became one I wanted to paint. However, something was amiss that I could not quite fathom. Then, I added a second bird and the painting came together. Yellow leaves complement the colors of the birds, and the birds’ placement creates a fine balance.