Watercolor - Harmony

I thought I'd try something different and created this watercolor image from a color image.
I wanted a different look than the usual birds and blue water so I used Nik>Silver>Neutral with a vignette, then an old paper filter to tone it. I then used this watercolor texture on Color Blend mode and then Topaz Painting>Venice at a lower opacity. Finally, I used DAP watercolor and slightly masked back in the grebes. I added kanji meaning "harmony" and my chop.
I guess this was a "through the back door" approach but I liked the final results. (And I love grebes)

Thanks for looking. Comments and suggestions appreciated:)

I like it also. The paper effect is very appropriate and the over all watercolor feel really works. Hard to believe it was a photo. Good work.

Everything here is great IMO Cheryl! Love the balance with the birds and the chop/calligraphy, the watercolor BG and the pano crop! Frame it!

This is wonderful Cheryl! The crop is perfect and I love the color tones you ended up with. Thanks for the link to the textures - good stuff there. I also love Grebes - they are so cute.

Beautiful work, Cheryl! The watercolor look is perfect, it looks painted! :) Love the color tones and comp.

Sweet image Cheryl and the filter work is lovely. I love the natural brushed border and the colors.

Outstanding work! Gosh, the soft colors in this are beautiful and the funny thing is it doesn't feel "fake" with the colored water in yellows and greens. Sweet!

I love Grebe's too...hardly ever get to see them but they always get my attention when they are flying through town. :)

Love the whole presentation and feel. Would like to see the faces of the two grebes lightened a bit.

Hi Cheryl, nicely done. Love the textures and the crop. Agree with Arthur on lightening the faces particularly on the right-most bird.

Congratulations. Nicely done.

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. They're greatly appreciated.:)