Daphne - Final

© Ellen Blonder

Here's Daphne, finished, in her new setting. It turned out to be a daunting challenge to paint a white bird and still show feather details. 

postscript: Oh, dear, visiting her today, a fellow visitor told me "she" turned out to be a "he." And he/she is a much warmer white than I painted, so I may revisit this painting after I let it sit a while.

Daphne 4

© Ellen Blonder

The last couple of days, I've concentrated on background details.

Daphne 3

© Ellen Blonder

I think I'll add a heliconia for a hit of color, but not too much. I've also added some detail to the leaves on the right.

Daphne 2

© Ellen Blonder

Wandering through McBryde Garden, part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, I saw many places where I could situate Daphne, but it's a small painting, and I want her to remain the focus. 

Daphne 1

© Ellen Blonder

Daphne is a cockatoo who spends many of her days on her perch at the Kong Lung Historic Market Center in Kilauea, Kauai. She has played catch with me, and I once observed her enjoying a long neck-scratching by an indulgent shopper. Daphne belongs to the owner of Kong Lung Trading, always a must-see place for its thoughtful selection of beautiful things.

I've long wanted to paint Daphne in acrylics, so here she is on an 8x10-inch canvas board after a couple of days. I think I want to give her a vacation and put her somewhere a bit fanciful.