My “Showoffs” series of four paintings featured cockatoos with outrageous crests. This one is the Black Palm cockatoo, a huge creature whose bright red cheek patches — bare skin — make them one of the most distinctively beautiful species of parrots. They are very intelligent, as with most parrot species, using tools as musical instruments in different ways for their acoustic qualities. They are not often kept in captivity as they are incredibly sensitive and do not adapt well. But they sure are fun to paint!
