Dawn of the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

My encaustic wax painting “Dawn of the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo” is inspired by the raw beauty, freedom, and individuality of the Tasmanian landscape as a touching metaphor for our melancholic yellow-tailed black cockatoo.

Harnessing its fluidity, I use layers of molten wax manipulated with a heat gun and blow torch to create an interplay of black, white, and yellow, that mirrors the soft hues of dawn and the haunting clouds that echo the cockatoos’ appearance and demeanour.

The landscape style allows molten wax to transform into ethereal skies and undulating waters, while a more solid, sculpted wax forms the elements of the land, creating contrast and tranquillity.

“Dawn of the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo” beckons the observer to reflect upon the beauty inherent in nature and the intricate web of inter-connectedness that connects all living things.