15.2 × 21.5 cm | 6 × 8.5 in
Materials: Paper, graphite, colored pencil.
This portrait was created as a birthday gift for a friend and it was inspired by two things: a deceased parrot and a distinctive drawing by James Edward Deeds. While viewing one of Deeds’ original pieces at an exhibition in Paris – a striking image of a woman wearing a feathery hat – I was struck by how at first glance she appeared to have a bird on her head. This serendipitous encounter happened while I was brainstorming for a gift for Daria, so the idea to make her a portrait with her best cat friend and her dead bird as a hat was obviously perfect.