Plumper Rooster Final

© Ellen Blonder

It has taken a month and a half, off and on, to finally get to the fluffy feathers. I've also spent the last couple of days toning some of the colors down and adding last subtle color changes in the plants all around. 

I have heard that this rooster is no longer on the premises, disappearing as mysteriously as he first appeared. I'm glad I got to see him when I did. 

Plumper Rooster 5

© Ellen Blonder

With the plant coming along in the foreground over the past week, the painting finally feels more anchored. 

Plumper Rooster 4

©Ellen Blonder

Some days I've only managed to paint 20 minutes, others not at all. It feels like this is going to take forever, with so many plant details waiting. 

Plumper Rooster 3

© Ellen Blonder

I've been distracted by guests and spring cleaning, but I'm filling this in catch as catch can. Even though I'd love to finish painting the bird first, he's so fluffy that I'd just have to paint around his feathers afterward.

Plumper Rooster 2

© Ellen Blonder

Such a fanciful creature deserves a wild environment, don't you think? This one is going to be fun but slow going, although the canvas board is only 16 x 20 inches.

Plumper Rooster 1

© Ellen Blonder

A magnificent and curious-looking rooster showed up on the lawn our last week in Kauai, and begged to be painted. I want to set him in a more lush environment with plants from elsewhere, although the pink ginger in the lower right corner is from the property. 

Covered with feathers that looked more like fur, this guy differs from any other rooster we've seen wandering about. My husband Nick named him fancifully as a Northumberland Plumper, and I've thought of him as such ever since.