The Suitor (2025)Watercolour
by Anna Shabalova

"The Suitor" is a charged portrait steeped in the tension of a moment of presentation and the anticipation of a reply. The pelican is depicted not merely as a bird, but as a dramatic protagonist locked in an emotional narrative.
Its bright, almost exotic plumage—ranging from fiery orange and saturated pink to deep blues—serves as its finest courtship attire.
Central to this scene is the perfectly glossy, tempting cherry, balanced precariously on its head, acting as a fragile offering or perhaps the heavy burden of its own hopes. This is a gift demanding attention.
The creature's piercing gaze is a potent mixture of pride, anxiety, and unwavering resolve. Contained within that one eye is the entire vulnerability of the suitor, who has dared to put his most precious bid on display. The painting captures the universal theme of courtship tension, where an exterior calm conceals an inner storm of emotion and the fear of rejection.

Materials used:

Watercolor and ink

Details:

• Watercolour on Paper
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 30 x 40 x 0.1cm (unframed) / 30 x 40cm (actual image size)
• Signed certificate of authenticity
• Style: Graphic, illustrative and typographic
• Subject: Animals and birds

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