The Parrot

Before this piece, I’d been experimenting with vibrant flowing paint backgrounds, but I wanted to take a different approach here.

Instead of letting the background take centre stage, I focused on creating a simpler composition that allowed the subject to do all the talking. This painting became an opportunity to experiment with bold colours, layering different shades of blue throughout the feathers to create depth, texture and movement. I also spent more time refining the facial details, as I wanted the parrot’s expression to tell its own story.

The striking blue, yellow and green feathers immediately catch your attention, but it’s the eyes and subtle expression that encourage you to look a little longer. Sometimes a simpler composition can be just as powerful.