Description
With their face only a mother could love and their anti social nesting behaviour it is not surprising that these birds are very often reviled. When I came across my first brush turkey during a holiday in Noosa I was enamoured with their cantankerous personality which matched perfectly with their beautifully grotesque countenance. I loved them! What a wonderful challenge to paint. As mound building birds, the male bush turkey uses their beak as a thermometer to test the temperature of their compost-like nest, adding or removing debris to get the correct temperature for their offspring. Royal Albert Heirloom Imari is stacked on top of each other to represent the mound of the nest, and the beautifully unattractive bird is perched on top to show ownership.
This painting has been shown at Bundaberg Regional Gallery as part of their You, Me and a Cup of Tea Exhibition from the 2nd of February until the 19th March 2017.
