ORIGINAL ART – ‘Belly Buddies’, Orange-bellied Parrots

Description

‘Belly Buddies’

2023
Ink and watercolour
510mm x 510mm
by Shannon Dwyer

Shannon felt compelled to paint this beautiful species to shine a light on its beauty but to also draw attention to its dire story. Painting such a vibrant and unique pop of Australian beauty was joyous and yet sad because paintings/pictures may be all we have left of this stunning species if more is not done to protect and prioritise our natural world.

Certificate of Authenticity information:

‘Belly-Buddies’ was created with watercolour paint and detailed with a traditional nib and highly concentrated ink on 425gsm 100% cotton watercolour paper. This original artwork is hand-embossed with the ‘Shannon Dwyer Original’ authenticity seal and hand-penned signature validating it as an original artwork of Shannon Dwyer.

The Orange-bellied Parrot is a small parrot known for its striking plumage that is endemic to southern Australia. A migratory bird, they travel across Bass Strait between their breeding grounds in Tasmania and their wintering grounds on the mainland of Australia. The migration of the Orange-bellied Parrot is a remarkable feat, with the birds crossing open water and flying over long distances to reach their destination. Primarily seed-eaters, with a diet consisting of a variety of grasses, herbs and shrubs, they are also known to feed on insects and their larvae during the breeding season, providing an important soure of protein for both the adults and the young. The Orange-bellied Parrot is one of the rarest and most critically endangered parrots in the world, with an estimated population of only 50 to 100 individuals remaining in the wild. The primary threats to the Orange-bellied Parrot include habitat loss and degradation due to human activities such as agriculture and coastal development, as well as the introduction of non-native predators, such as foxes and cats, which prey on the birds and their nests. Efforts are underway to protect and conserve the Orange-bellied Parrot, including habitat restoration and protection programs, captive breeding and reintroduction programs and predator control measures. These efforts have been somewhat successful, with some increases in the wild population. However, while the future of the Orange-bellied Parrot remains uncertain, conservation efforts are critical to the survival of this unique and irreplaceable species. Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

*Artwork price includes signed original artwork, Certificate of Authenticity and free delivery within Australia*

Artwork is unframed so you don’t pay unnecessary freight costs and will be able to choose the frame of your liking.
This piece will be delivered in a large reinforced postage tube, rolled securely in (and protected by) acid-free tissue paper.

Framing tips and suggestions:
This piece is best ‘float-mounted’ and framed behind glass.
‘Float-mounting’ allows the paper to have a bit of ‘freedom’ which watercolour paper often needs as its rarely perfectly ‘flat’. By ‘mounting’ the artwork, it showcases the raw edges of the watercolour paper and subtle wave of the paper to enhance the the fact that its an original artwork with delicious ‘imperfections’.