Fiery Guardian (2026) Original Watercolour by Anna Shabalova

Look at him. He woke up long before dawn, feeling the heartbeat of the earth. I wanted his plumage to hold the entire palette of a stormy sky and the early sun, but his true power is right there, on his head. Instead of a usual comb, he wears a majestic artichoke, topped with a blazing, fiery bloom.
​He isn't just calling in the new day—he feels like a guardian standing right on the border between wild nature and something deeply refined. Look into his eye; it's so sharp and unwavering. He knows the weight of every single scale and the warmth of that inner fire. Working with transparent watercolor here felt like letting him breathe onto the paper, reminding us that true nobility always has its own fierce character, and anyone brave enough to protect their own light wears a crown.

Materials used:

Watercolor and ink

Details:

• Watercolour on Paper
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 11.81 x 15.75 x 0.04" (unframed) / 11.81 x 15.75" (actual image size)
• Signed certificate of authenticity
• Style: Graphic, illustrative and typographic
• Subject: Animals and birds