Oil, acrylic, 24ct Manetti Superior Gold Leaf on birchwood - framed in a white-grained wood. 
25x25"
 
The latest tropical bird, in my series of oil-painted Brazilian birds on birchwood, which is mounted on 24ct gold. 
 
Mato Grosso is named after camping in the Pantanal, all of my birds are named after the places that I visited in Brazil.  It is the 7th in the series of gold-leafed birds.
 
The bird is painted in oil so that it projects from the fine grains of washed acrylic birchwood. The botanical work is painted in a contemporary style with 24ct gold leaf trimmed leaves. I like to use spray paint for the branches, as it gives a subtle metallic effect.
 
The colour pallet is carefully chosen, so that the bird blends with the foliage, creating a balance within the piece. 
 
A nature-inspired work, the birchwood panel is set on a 24ct gold-leafed wood panel creating not only a painting but a sculptured piece of art.
 
The artwork was shown at The Other Art Fair in London, 7-10th March presented by Saatchi Art.