GRACE AND BALANCE

 

Grace and Balance, acrylic on canvas, 2021. 30" X 24"

Flamingos are a symbol of seemingly effortless grace and balance. These pink, long-legged birds are usually depicted as standing on one leg for a very long time even while sleeping, making them a symbol of balance. Not only are flamingos symbols of beauty, they are also symbols of something beyond beauty, and that is elegance. While beauty may be a product of nature, elegance is a product of design. Flamingoes are known for their graceful motions during flight. They are also symbols of vibrance because of their spectacular bright pink color. While they are born gray, as they grow up, they become shades of pink, hot pink, and sometimes reddish orange. This is due to the abundance of beta carotene in their diet, which is mainly comprised of algae, larvae, and crustaceans. In fact, the name "flamingo" is derived from their vibrant color. It means “flame-colored” in Spanish and Portuguese.

Other water birds present in the lake scene in the painting include a milky stork, a scarlet ibis, a pair of male and female mandarin ducks and a flying group of ruddy ducks. They are at the lake because of the abundance of food: especially fish. The fish depicted include jumping grass carp. 


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