Natural Vanity

This acrylic on canvas depicts an elegant flamingo, based on a picture I took at a local zoo. As an animal and nature lover I found inspiration in this composition. I wanted to emphasize, in particular, the contrast between the cool teal, blue, and green tones of the water and the warm pink, orange, and magenta hues of the flamingo feathers. I conveyed the sense of motion in the water with a combination of longer, swooping brush strokes and with sharper, smaller details representing optical effects. The teal and light blue are a reflection of the sky, just apposed to the darker, green water. The sense of motion continues in the flamingo feathers and plumage: a combination of larger, richer brush strokes and smaller, blended details. The animal is in harmony with the surrounding habitat.