The World Parrot Refuge parrots are painting!
Parrots paint with panache at Coombs refuge by Judith Lavoie:
“Every painting will be different. They are so imaginative,” Wendy Huntbatch said enthusiastically after the first art trial. “I think the cockatoos are going to be the best artists.”
The paintings, on stretched canvas, will be sold at the Parrot Refuge and each one will be personally signed, with a footprint, by the bird artist.
Group painting sessions tended to get a little hairy — or feathery — with paint splattering in all directions and no defined artist for each piece, so staff are restricting art classes to two birds at a time.
“They are doing amazing work,” said supervisor-turned-art-teacher Stephanie Martin.
Bailey and Peaches, umbrella cockatoos, favoured reds and yellows with impressionist influences.
“Bailey is using her tail so her paintings feature a sweeping effect — sort of feathering. Then she slides on it,” Martin said.
“Peaches uses the brushes to throw the paint on the canvas.”
Nicky and Sidney, Moluccan cockatoos with pink feathers, preferred the blue and green combinations.
“Most of it is fingerpainting, rather than brushwork. It is pretty abstract and everyone has their own version of what they see,” Martin said.
Volunteers are looking forward to exploring the individual talents of their favourite birds and there are great hopes for the abilities of the African greys, she said.
Baths have to follow painting lessons, even though the paint is non-toxic, Martin said.
“And after bath time they like to be blow-dried. They want the full salon treatment,” she said.
For many more photos of the artists at work, please click here.
Each unique parrot painting is $75, plus shipping. Shipping will be added to your order when the painting is shipped. Our cart is secure, so your information is safe.
For more information, please contact Wendy at wendy.huntbatch@floprs.org .
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Each unique parrot painting is $75, plus shipping. Shipping will be added to your order when the painting is shipped. Our cart is secure, so your information is safe.
For more information, please contact Wendy at wendy.huntbatch@floprs.org .
So far we have 8 paintings completed – they seem to average 4 per day – it is hard work and requires a lot of polly concentration! We will have volunteers here again to assist our artists and hand the loaded brushes to them. The Parrot Art gallery will be open as long as we have paintings available.
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