1996 - 27.625" x 20.125" - Mixed Media (Colored Pencil, Watercolor), Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
When we named our reddish golden retriever pup Phoenix, I decided that I wanted to know more about the myth of the phoenix bird, after which she was named. The fantastic bird was described as having feathers of gold, red and purple. It was sometimes described as a heron-like bird. Herons live along the Nile River in Egypt. The phoenix was believed to be a gorgeous bird.
For ideas, I took a look at many birds from around the world. The peacock has those “eyes” in its feathers, and I thought it might be fitting if the phoenix had flame-shaped spots. And what if the feathers appeared to be on fire, and the bird glowing? The bird above is the resulting interpretation.
This painting was shown at the Norris Gallery, Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center, St. Charles, IL; in the Celebration of the Arts show at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Naperville, IL; and a digital image was shown at Artexpo New York 2007, Jacob Javits Convention Center, Art-Exchange booth, March 1-2, 2007.