Provenance
Acquired by American Legacy Fine Arts directly from the artist
Artist Statement
“The work is a celebration of my discovery of this beautiful bird, the Orange Breasted Bunting! Almost too beautiful to be real, the colors of this species are perfect complementary colors. I couldn’t resist creating a setting just to showcase the splendor of not only the plumage but the regal attitude. This bunting is endemic to Mexico and I’ve shown him here with other tones of analogous colors in the vase and flowers. Hydrangeas are a symbol of peace and harmony and are a perfect sentiment for the scene. The simple block pattern of the bird’s coloring is balanced with more ornate design in the vase and frame. The intent with this painting and with all my work is to present a sense of reverence for nature, not just the nature of birds and flowers, but reverence for the nature of a moment in time, caught here with that fleeting opportunity one might catch as a beautiful bird perches just for a second within our sight.”
—Mary Kay West
Exhibited
The Poetry of Still Life, American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, California, April 22 – May 21, 2023
