Synchronicity

Synchronicity: the happening by chance of two or more related or similar events at the same time. In this case, the Southern carmine bee-eater flock, passing in step with a lone meandering elephant.

My original concept for this piece was to paint the birds out of focus, as a blur of movement and colour. As the painting progressed, the focus came for the birds too, whilst maintaining a sense of distance between the elephants and the bee-eaters.

The bright colours of the birds against the greys of the elephant are one of the ways in which this painting celebrates the differences of these two species sharing the frame.

Synchrony: the way in which two or more things happen, develop, move, etc. at the same time or speed

‘Synchrony’ came next as I looked to explore the series on a smaller scale with a direct gaze from the elephant, the bee-eaters taking a supporting role, whilst bringing movement, colour and scale.

Serendipity: the fact of finding interesting things by chance

The idea for ‘Serendipity’ formed when I realised that the 150x50cm canvas I had ordered would lend itself to a flock of travelling bee-eaters.