THE REDTAILS PLEASURE – A treasure in creation

THE REDTAIL PLEASURE – A treasure in the creation, Red Tail Black Cockatoo

Ask at this link for the framed original or 1 of 25 limited edition acrylic enhanced reproductions. Red Tail Black Cockatoo

Buy scarves directly on multiple product lines at Fine Art America

THE PROVERB

Wisdom
In the heavens
Flight
Color
Aerodynamics
From the book of life
Treasures
To behold
Messages
Journeying
Across
Cultural walls
Creative enterprise
Indigenous dreams
A white fella’s muse

THE STORY

The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is one of my favourite Western Australian birds. Red Tail Black Cockatoo
In one of those peculiar ironies in life, I am unable to explain why it is a favourite. It just is!

In my boyhood town (Donnybrook, West Australia), Redtails flew the same skies as my second favourite bird, “The Wedgetail Eagle”. 

I enjoy the Redtailed’s raucous screeching. Vibrant red tails highlighted with rich black feathers created a unique contrast in Australia’s vibrant blue skies.

A strong memory about where these memories formed was my father’s pleasure in wildlife and protecting birds in the wild.

He passed that pleasure onto me.

My use of the artisans’ pendants

It’s a mystery to understand how a creative gift imagines a story from anything seen. In this painting, I use the pendant to herald the parabolic narrative reflecting Aboriginal dot painting.

I discovered that, beyond culture, skin colour, religion, and politics, creative expression is told in metaphor. It depicts the inquisitive heart. A family meeting seeking wisdom and counsel around a jewel of great price, the family.

That is one of heaven’s gifts and revelations, adding purpose and trust to a discoverer’s heart.

The pendant represents the family story gathering around a jewel of knowledge in the elders’ council for the new generations. Embedded in the family council is a purported promise of freedom and peace.

The God factor

Understanding the mystery in metaphor brings peace, a God factor in revelation, beyond understanding.

For me, that answers many a cultural diversity and intrigue.

Personal revelation will echo contentment in creative enterprise and cultural uniqueness, of the spirit’s inner world … man created in the image of God.

The Redtails in this art carry the allegory on pendants across cultural boundaries. They perpetuate wonder and glory from one generation to the next.

The Redtails story

The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii), also known as Banksian- or Banks’ black cockatoo, is a large black cockatoo native to Australia.

Adult males have a characteristic pair of bright red panels on the tail that gives the species its name.

Red-tails are more common in the drier parts of the continent.

Five subspecies are recognised, differing most significantly in beak size.

More northerly subspecies are widespread.

Under threat

The two southern subspecies (the forest red-tailed black cockatoo and the south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo) are under threat.

The threats to South East Australia’s Black Cockatoos are deforestation and habitat alterations.

Of the black cockatoos, the red-tailed is the most adaptable to aviculture. Black cockatoos are much rarer and much more expensive in aviculture outside Australia.

The species is usually found in eucalyptus woodlands or along watercourses and is commonly seen in large flocks in Northern Australia.

Red-tailed Black cockatoos are seed eaters and cavity nesters, depending on trees with large diameters, generally Eucalyptus.

The Redtail’s unique language

The red-tailed Black cockatoo is diurnal, raucous, and noisy, and is often seen flying high overhead in small flocks, sometimes mixed with other cockatoos.

In northern Australia, it is common to see 500 birds in flocks.

When food sources are abundant, cockatoos flock in animated conversation; otherwise, they are generally shy of humans.

In northern and central Australia, birds may feed on the ground, while the two southern subspecies, graptogyne and naso, are almost exclusively arboreal. They tend to fly rather slowly with intermittent deep flapping wingbeats, markedly different from the shallow wingbeats of the similar glossy black cockatoo. They often fly at a considerable height.

The Redtails struggle with mortality

Like many Australian cockatoos and parrots, the red-tailed black cockatoo is threatened by the thriving illegal trade in bird smuggling. High demand and transit mortality mean more birds are taken from the wild than sold.

The bird is part of an annual census, the Great Cocky Count, that has been held every year since 2009 to track the population change of Red Tail and other black cockatoos.

The allegory

Within the culture of these beautiful creatures is a host of knowledge beyond comprehension. An inner world of science and engineering, the outer world of visible beauty and aerodynamics, mixed with animated caricature, makes it a unique species of bird.

The allegory is available for all true seekers of the mystery of life’s beginnings, seasonal wonder, and natural maintenance.

The indigenous influence art disclaimer Red Tail Black Cockatoo

My attempt to paint, study, and replicate indigenous art is, at its best, naive. In the best way, I know there is no way I would knowingly *disrespect a people group I dearly love, and these are my best attempts to date.

I study, at my own pace, and these studies unmask a deeper honour toward these dear marginalised people. I borrowed from their creative intelligence to partner with this Western-cultured photorealism painting.

As an Australian citizen, I am honoured that indigenous peoples give me pleasure in their interpretive storytelling and dot painting.

Paralleled alongside the rhythmic sounds of their music, didgeridoos, knocking sticks, dance, and song makers, these gifted people are part of our inheritance.

I have a lot to discover as I embed what I learn, crossing the bridge of understanding from my culture into indigenous culture.

My Godly inheritance

Part of my Godly inheritance inspires me to look forward to experiencing Aboriginal offerings in heaven. There are no fears, hatred, prejudice, or offences there. They darken what God created to be good in all cultures, including indigenous cultures.

God will separate the good from the dark in all cultures, and we will see the wonder of culture without superstition, fear, and prejudice.

* Some have claimed I have no place using Aboriginal influences in my art because it is disrespectful to the sacredness of their culture, and yet I consider my art just as sacred because I have as much freedom as my indigenous family to explore all wonders in the world of art with freedom of expression.

I choose to honour all art disciplines, incorporating whatever inspires me at the time of production, while giving glory to God for our diversity.

It is my opinion that we should be celebrating one another’s storytelling and diversity, seeking to love one another.

Racial arrogance and one-upmanship help no one, no matter what colour our skin! 

STATUS and MATERIALS

ORIGINAL FOR SALE  *
Painted with professional oils on the fine weave, gesso-primed cotton canvas for long life. The canvas is stretched on New Zealand pine protected with brushed dammar varnish and framed by the great team at Orewa Framing Studios.
* Originals and Limited Edition reproductions are supplied with Provenance, coded Authentication of Sale Certificate, and maintenance/care information.

25 LIMITED EDITION “ACRYLIC ENHANCED” CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS
Please ask about the price and sizes on stretch-mounted, Giclee-printed, archival UV-treated canvas.
A master acrylic artist will digitally recreate the original painting and use hand-painted brushstrokes to replicate the original painting

50 LIMITED EDITION CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS * 
Unframed sizes | 1100 x short side – $1250  | 960 x short side – $960  |  650 x short side – $650
7 colour Giglee-printed on long-life archival canvas or fine art archival paper. Protected with 2 coats of UV archival spray.
* Stretch-mounted reproductions will incur added charges for mounting and freight.

OPEN EDITION POSTER ART PRINTS * 
Unframed sizes | 594 x short side – $120  |  420 x short side – $92
* Posters printed on fine art papers and treated with two coats of UV archival protection spray.

FASHION and PRODUCTS

Images from “The Red Tail Pleasure” will be exhibited on multiple product lines at Fine Art America

SHIPPING

• Includes insurance and package/handling fees.
• The Original and Limited Edition reproductions ship with the Provenance-coded Authentication of the Sale Certificate and maintenance information.
• Poster art prints ship in insured tubes.

AWARDS