Osa Sunrise

August 30 2020 
14 x 18.5in 
acrylic on masonite

This bird species is now found only along the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, it’s total population estimated at around 1000 individuals. The technical challenge here was to make a white bird look interesting.  Like other cotingids, they have the habit of perching on exposed branches at the tops of trees, so I used it’s behavioural trait to portray it bathed in the light of the Osa’s incomparable sunrise. The painting was done to raise awareness for Osa Conservation’s efforts to protect and restore the Mangrove habitat that this species requires to feed and breed in.