In this intimate scene washed by sunlight and backed by banana trees, two vibrant macaws take a breath in silent companionship. This early pastel painting of mine opens the door for you to join the birds in the lush jungle. Soft pastels allowed me to render the feathers in hot, vivid reds that contrast beautifully against the cool,rich greens of the leaves, which are patterned with light and cast shadows.

A day at the San Diego Zoo gave me ample opportunity to watch these parrots interacting. While there was plenty of noisy chatter, I chose to capture the pair in a moment of tranquility amidst the chaos. Macaws have boisterous personalities, but these intelligent birds were obviously bonded and simply enjoyed one another's company in comfortable silence. Vibrant calmness, fleeting moments, connection and caring.

Hello? Hello! Custom framed elegantly for the era, this vintage pastel is in its original frame, which adds value in collector's' eyes because it offers a glimpse into where the artist was at the time. (In this case, I'd finally started valuing my work enough to invest in quality framing.) With the playful birds and all the color pop, this painting is a visual delight and a conversation starter, perfect to warm up any space that needs some life and happiness added. We once hung it by our African Grey's cage, but he protested that he prefers landscape paintings... and hates macaws... so we had to move it.

10" x 18" vintage pastel 1984 | matted and framed to outer dimensions 16" x 24" (original frame) | under clear glass