Hello Cobber!
Acrylic on canvas
2025
30.5 × 30.5 cm
Hello Cobber! is an acrylic painting capturing the spirited personality of the Sulphur-crested cockatoo, intelligent, noisy, and full of cheeky charm. Painted predominantly with a palette knife, the work embraces a richly layered and tactile surface, where bold colour fields collide and overlap to echo the bird’s expressive energy and unpredictable nature.
Rather than aiming for strict realism, the painting leans into abstraction, focusing on character and presence over literal likeness. The exaggerated textures and vibrant contrasts reflect both the chaos and affection often associated with these iconic Australian birds. At its heart, Hello Cobber! is also a deeply personal work of a beloved childhood family pet.