Butcherbirds - watercolour
This watercolour was painted for Poppy who has been hand-feeding Butcherbirds and Kookaburras at his home in Queensland for years. Now for some reason his Butcherbirds have flown and he misses them greatly.
When I was a child the Butcherbirds had a reputation from mesmerizing small cage birds then plucking them out through the bars. Anyone with a canary or a budgie hated them. That was long before I saw them sitting politely and patiently on Poppy's knee.
The Texas A&M students at the studio here in Castiglion Fiorentino have been making stencils. Inspired by their efforts I had to have a go.
Now I'm fighting the urge to don a hoodie and spray a few Butcherbirds around Tuscany.
