Bad Birdie (2021), Oil on Canvas. 56.5 x 50”. Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.

Inspired by the coincidental disappearance and later reappearance of a mysterious parakeet, Bad Birdie illustrates the life of Birdie himself. Interacting in his own little world, he is the king of his domain. A praying mantis joins him on his journey, as the sky behind them opens up, revealing new horizons and opportunities previously unseen. Having experienced a life of trouble, jumbled events and unsure times, it finally seems that they have found a new path worth exploring. This piece is made from a handmade wooden frame and stretched canvas, with many layers of oil paint applied over multiple decades.