I wondered if I should name the art "Give Me That!" -or- "I Want It!" -or- "It Is Mine!" -or- "My Shiny Trinket!" since the cockatiel was determined to have the shiny hair clasp. In fact, the buyer of the painting is welcome to choose one of these alternate titles.

A cockatiel (cockateel) is a small gray Australian parrot, though some have been bred to be white or mottled. It has a prominent crest that is yellow in males.

Dear Nancy,
Hello, is this an oil pastel painting? It is so cute (and well done) but just very nostalgic to me, from my daughter and her cockatiel she used to have. You did capture that stiff posture people get when a bird is on their head. We had many different birds throughout the years . . . and now I am older so I have an old-lady-bird, a canary, and I am so in love with him. such a sweet little bird with a sweet little song! Your work is lovely, thank you for sharing it. ~ L    2/6/09

Dear L~,
I appreciate your kind note. Thank you! Canaries are fine birds, too. The art is an oil painting using brushes and tube paints (not oil sticks or oil pastels). The little girl goes to our church. The cockatiel is named Sunshine and is at least six years old. I imagine your daughter loved and enjoyed her bird friend, just as this girl does. ~ Nancy Lee    2/6/09

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