Indian Peahen by Grace Kim

"I chose to paint the head of the Indian Peahen to draw attention to a bird that is unfamiliar, and often overlooked.  The peacock, which only refers to the males of the species, is widely recognized by its iridescent blue and green plumage.  The peahen is often described as ‘drab’ and ‘mottled brown’ in comparison, and is rarely an artist’s focus. When I created Indian Peahen, the most challenging aspect was painting the crown of the peahen. It took well over one month to reproduce the detail and intricacy of the individual feathers. Just like in our society, where there is a disparity between men and women, this is also the case with the peafowl.  The peacock gets all the attention, and all the glory, while the peahen is ignored.  I enjoyed capturing and showcasing the peahen's inherent beauty." - Grace Kim