Sharing the snack - Rainbow Bee-eaters

Extremely detailed original oil painting on Ampersand Gesso board of a pair of magnificent Rainbow Bee-eaters, professionally framed in a double frame, ready to hang.
Image size: 46x61cm, over the frame size: 62x 78cm
Reference credits: Stuart Blackwell
This painting was a finalist of The Holmes Art Prize 2023 for Realistic Australian Bird Art.
"The Meropidae or Bee-eaters are a group of birds containing 27 species. Most are found in Africa and Asia, with a few in southern Europe and only one in Australia – a Rainbow Bee-eater. With their richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and elongated central tail feathers these are spectacular birds for sure!
Rainbow bee-eaters are a common species and they may be found in open woodlands, beaches, dunes, cliffs, and they often visit parks and private gardens. They are very social birds and often roost together in large groups. But in my painting I portrayed a rather private moment where two birds are sharing their favorite meal on the dry tree branch that serves as the stage for this romantic play".

Follow

Elena Kolotusha is a visual artist from Melbourne, best known for her super-realistic still lifes and animal studies. Born in former Soviet Union, Elena developed her passion for art from the early years and after studying at the Visual Arts Department of the Pedagogical University of Kazakhstan, she began her career as an visual arts teacher.
Since arriving in Australia in 1998, Elena has taken part in many group shows and exhibitions and over the years won numerous awards and commendations, including international prizes.
Elena works in various media including oil/acrylic‚ colour pencils/mixed media and scratchboard engravings. Her favourite genres are close-up animal portraits and observational detailed still life drawings with a hint of quirkiness and symbolism.
Elena's works were featured in many Australian and international publications such as "Australian Artist" and "Artist's Palette" magazines, "The Book of the Dog" (London 2015), "50 Masters of Realistic Imagery" (Germany 2015), "Inspiration Wild" (Australia 2014), "Strokes of Genius" series ( USA 2014, 2016, 2018), "Art journey - Animals" (USA 2016)
Elena is a fellow member of Australian Guild of Realist Artists, Wildlife Artists Society of Australasia and International Society of Scratchboard Artists.