Parrots Commission

20" x 16"

oil on canvas

Sold to a collector in Florida

I have never painted parrots before and was asked to do this commission of four beautiful birds as a gift from a pet sitter. I am a distant admirer of parrots and while I am in awe of their beauty, I know first hand the dangers and trickery of these birds. I used to be a live-in bird sitter to a Hyacinth Macaw, Blue and Gold Macaw, Scarlett Macaw and a Toucan in south Florida during my college days. The majority of the time I basically tried not to get bit, knowing full well the pain their beaks could inflict. 

Upon the first meeting of the Hyacinth Macaw, he grabbed my arm faster than I knew what was happening and clamped down with a force I had not experienced before. He only left a small puncture, but bruised my whole arm for two days. Later, once he accepted me, we became great friends and he would sit on my shoulder at coffee time and nuzzle my cheek. The scarlet never got used to me and would regularly chase me though the yard screeching. Once she would calm down, I could get her to climb on a broomstick to put her in the enormous wrought iron cage they called home. 

It was quite an experience.