Painted September 2020. 12″ x 12″. Acrylic on Canvas.
This is more permanent version of test study I did in order to play with fluid acrylic. The reference photo was of a chicken with feather that were wackadoodle. It was actually a good learning process to paint the same picture twice. I managed to resolve some problems, but already can think of a different approach that I would take on the next painting of this subject.
There was always one chicken in the barnyard that was lowest on the pecking order. The poor bird had a constantly harried look about it. Feathers were disarranged and the hen was clearly stressed. Unfortunately, the nature of chickens is to establish a pecking order, so there was always going to be one at the bottom. Although the reference photo was of a prize bird that naturally had fluffed out feathers, I kept thinking about the lowest hen while I was painting.
I can see why painters keep tackling a subject over and over, but I think I need a break from chickens for a while. I feel like they have the ability to stare deep into my soul and it’s creeping me out!!!
